Chapter 60: Equally Fiery

"Boss, the local toughs in County H have backed down. Our inspection team has returned safely," Sun Bowen called Lu Kun, his voice tinged with excitement.

"Oh?" Lu Kun wasn't particularly surprised.

After all, Stone had personally led the team this time. Unless things escalated into an outright brawl, one side was bound to give way.

"Did Minister Liang encounter any trouble?" Lu Kun stood up from his rocking chair and asked in a low voice.

"Uh... no, no, Minister Liang wasn't hurt, just a few of his men got some scrapes," Sun Bowen replied quickly.

At the same time, he couldn't help but ponder the relationship between Lu Kun and Liang Guanshi, the head of the Security Department.

Now that the matter was resolved, the general manager's first question wasn't about the terms of negotiation or the outcome, but about Minister Liang, who usually kept a low profile. Clearly, the general manager held Minister Liang in high regard.

Those restless folks below who were eyeing Minister Liang's position would likely end up with bruised heads if they tried anything.

"Instruct the Finance Department to immediately transfer fifteen thousand yuan directly to Minister Liang. Let him reward his men as he sees fit for their efforts," Lu Kun commanded.

Sun Bowen was speechless for a moment.

He had intended to mention that this wasn't proper procedure, but for the sake of his own position, he decided it was best to obey without question.

After all, all the rules in the Huakun Group were set by the boss himself, and he could change them as he pleased.

"Whatever the boss says is always right," had become one of Sun Bowen's life mottos.

"Please rest assured, Boss, I will handle all follow-up matters appropriately," Sun Bowen responded with exaggerated deference, accepting the task and orders Lu Kun had given.

"Good. Also, now that the issue in County H is resolved, get moving on the opening preparations. Time waits for no one!"

Lu Kun was beginning to savor the sweetness of holding real power, and he was growing ever more satisfied with Sun Bowen.

A good subordinate should be like a weapon in the boss's hand, ready to strike wherever pointed, so as not to be discarded.

Sun Bowen was like a sponge, brimful of potential that needed constant pressure to bring out his abilities.

On the other end of the phone, hearing Lu Kun pile on more tasks, Sun Bowen was nearly in tears.

He ran himself ragged day in and day out, while his boss enjoyed leisure at home, rarely ever showing up at the office.

"Sigh, such is fate..." Sun Bowen lamented to the heavens, though Lu Kun neither knew nor cared, even if he had overheard.

In any case, Lu Kun had a good impression of Sun Bowen—capable and obedient. If there was any shortcoming, it was perhaps a lack of boldness, but for now, that was actually an advantage.

What Lu Kun needed at present was a puppet on a string, not someone to challenge him.

The opening of a new Huakun supermarket branch in County H no longer required Lu Kun to personally oversee every little detail.

After several months of operations in County Gui A, they had developed a mature set of procedures.

In Lu Kun's words, the Huakun Group management was now mature enough to open branches independently.

He couldn't be expected to lead every campaign himself, like a teacher leading a class of schoolchildren into battle, always charging at the front.

The smooth resolution of the County H issue brought joy throughout the company.

After all, it meant promotions for many!

And with promotions came raises; more power meant higher income—a fine thing indeed.

Many who had previously been made deputies would now be officially promoted, and elite employees were happy too, as their chances of becoming management assistants had greatly increased. That was always a good thing.

Preparations for the new branch had long been completed. Lu Kun issued his latest directive: "Wherever Huakun goes, advertising and public relations must follow." Then he dispatched a team of able lieutenants to County H to "expand their territory."

County H.

As the first Huakun branch to officially open, Lu Kun naturally had to be present in person.

He arrived at the County H Huakun branch around noon. The supermarket was bustling, with a long line snaking out the entrance for prize giveaways.

Security guards stood posted every five or ten steps, ensuring everything was in order.

These were proper security personnel—veterans, not the ragtag bands of street toughs that had once sufficed.

...

Everything followed the tried-and-tested formula from County Gui A, and it worked just as well.

Lu Kun had barely reached the entrance when the branch manager came out to greet him.

This plump fellow was named Luo Chunhong—a man with a woman's name. It was said his father had named him so, believing a girl's name would bring good fortune.

His blind grandfather, on the other hand, had been convinced his son and daughter-in-law had given him a granddaughter. In the first three days after Luo's birth, the old man went about the village lamenting and cursing. The couple, finding themselves at their wit's end, finally had to bring the child out for the old man to feel for himself and confirm that Luo Chunhong was indeed a grandson.

...

"So, how are sales?" Lu Kun asked as they walked together.

"General Manager, we'll need a bit more time for the final figures," Luo Chunhong replied, quickly handing Lu Kun a cup of tea.

"General Manager, Branch Manager, the sales data is ready." An employee knocked at the door, speaking steadily and holding several reports.

Lu Kun nodded silently. The people Luo had trained seemed quite solid—at the very least, they carried themselves with composure.

Luo Chunhong took the reports and passed them immediately to Lu Kun for his review.

Lu Kun scanned the data and found that sales figures were even stronger than those from the Gui A branch when it first opened.

He nodded approvingly, satisfied overall with the situation.

"A good start. Keep your composure, arrange all tasks properly, and meet every target set."

"Please rest assured, General Manager, the entire County H team will work together to fulfill headquarters' objectives," Luo Chunhong replied earnestly, bowing so deeply he nearly stumbled over himself.

Lu Kun couldn't help but laugh heartily.

Meanwhile, the junior employee by the door struggled to stifle his laughter, his face turning bright red.

Lu Kun waved him out of the room.

Luo Chunhong, a bit embarrassed, scratched his head with a silly grin.

This character was quite the treasure, not shy in the least. Back in Gui'an, he had gotten along well with everyone in the company.

Moreover, Luo had come up through the Public Relations Department as the right-hand man to Minister Lin Chunming, and was known for his strong abilities.

Luo Chunhong's appointment as manager of the County H branch was largely thanks to Lin Chunming's strong recommendation.

Of course, Lu Kun couldn't help but speculate privately afterward that Lin Chunming might have been worried about Luo sticking around in PR and possibly taking his own position someday.

Still, sending Luo to the front lines for more experience was, in Lu Kun’s view, a wise move.

Lu Kun regarded both Luo Chunhong and Sun Bowen as the type whose abilities shone brightest when pushed to their limits.