Volume 1, Chapter 63: Modifying Shares

"We address each other as brothers and have a very close relationship."

I didn't dare to exaggerate.

However, Han Feng truly treated me like a brother, a fact that was clear for everyone to see.

Zhao Hongling's questions were always very direct. "Then why is he still making you work as a waiter?"

"My title is Assistant General Manager, which was announced publicly. But I didn't want to just sit around here doing nothing, so I volunteered to work as a waiter."

I explained honestly.

This wasn't Han Feng's arrangement; it was entirely my own choice.

Moreover, I thought being a waiter was a good job. Keeping busy and dealing with all sorts of people made me feel that I had personal value.

"Do you hold any shares in the KTV?" Zhao Hongling asked again.

"No."

I shook my head.

The KTV had been taken over from Chu Hailong, and the registered legal representative was Han Feng.

I didn't even understand what having shares in the KTV meant, or if there were any other shareholders.

I was completely clueless about everything!

Zhao Hongling was unsatisfied with my answer. She furrowed her brow in silence for a moment, then stood up and said, "Xiaoyan, take me to Han Feng. I have something to say to him in person."

I didn't know why Zhao Hongling wanted to see Han Feng, but I nodded anyway, led her out of the private room, and knocked on the door of the general manager's office.

The sound of the guitar inside stopped abruptly, and Han Feng's voice came through.

"Come in!"

When we entered the room, Han Feng was already sitting behind the desk, holding a freshly lit cigarette between his fingers.

I made a polite introduction.

"Brother Feng, this is Sister Zhao. She has something to discuss with you."

"Please, have a seat!"

Han Feng was very courteous. He had met Zhao Hongling before, when she came with Meng Wanying last time.

Judging by the woman's arrogant behavior back then, she was clearly not someone to be trifled with.

After sitting down, Zhao Hongling introduced herself. "My name is Zhao Hongling. I am the Section Chief of the Collection and Administration Section at the county tax bureau."

"So you are Section Chief Zhao! Your esteemed name precedes you, a pleasure to meet you!"

Han Feng quickly stood up with the help of his crutches and shook hands with Zhao Hongling enthusiastically.

"Manager Han, how is the KTV business doing?"

As Zhao Hongling asked this, she lit a long, slender ladies' cigarette and leaned back slightly, looking very imposing.

"I just took over the KTV a few days ago, and I haven't made any money yet, just barely scraping by to make a living."

Han Feng put on a bitter expression and complained about poverty.

"Section Chief Zhao, I know that running a business requires paying taxes, but please give us a little more time. Once we manage to turn a profit, we will pay more taxes."

I stood to the side, feeling rather uneasy.

I hadn't expected Zhao Hongling to come looking for Han Feng simply to press him for taxes.

Yet, just moments ago, I had foolishly thought she genuinely wanted to help me.

I had even escorted her all the way to the office, which reminded me of a fitting phrase: bringing a wolf into the house.

Unaware of my changing expression, Zhao Hongling changed her line of questioning.

"Manager Han, does the KTV still have operational capital?"

"Sigh, expenses exceed income."

Han Feng sighed, continuing to play the pitiful card.

"To be honest with you, the KTV I took over is just an empty shell. Forget about expanding operations; we don't even have next month's staff salaries secured, which is why my little brother here was reduced to working as a waiter."

"Who are the shareholders?" Zhao Hongling asked again.

"Just two people, myself and Peng Xuan. He only holds one percent, just a nominal name. You understand how these things work." Han Feng smiled apologetically.

Peng Xuan must have been the former General Manager Peng.

I hadn't realized he still retained shares in the KTV.

Later on, I came to understand that establishing a limited liability company required at least two shareholders.

"Manager Han, let's cut straight to the point! Kick that fellow surnamed Peng out and replace him with Zhou Yang. Give Zhou Yang a forty-nine percent stake, and contact me the moment that is done. I will help this KTV get through its difficulties—believe it or not, as you wish."

With that, Zhao Hongling took a business card from her bag, placed it on the desk, stood up, and walked out.

I was frozen in shock on the spot, completely forgetting to see her off.

Han Feng kept frowning and scratching his head, utterly unable to figure out what kind of medicine Zhao Hongling was selling in her gourd.

Yet one thing was clear: she wanted to push me into the position of a shareholder.

Coming back to my senses, I flushed and hastily explained.

"Brother Feng, I honestly had no idea she would say those things to you. I don't want any shares either."

Han Feng looked me over and waved his hand. "Brother, of course I believe you. I'm just wondering whether or not we should trust this Section Chief Zhao."

"We can't trust her!"

I shook my head vigorously. "It feels like she's trying to drive a wedge between our brotherhood."

"But what possible benefit could driving a wedge between us bring her?"

Han Feng still couldn't figure it out, and he asked, "What did she say to you earlier?"

Holding nothing back, I told Han Feng the entire conversation from the private room.

In my mind, Han Feng, who had been through life and death with me, was naturally far more trustworthy than Zhao Hongling, whom I had met by chance.

After pondering for a moment, Han Feng seemed to understand.

"For the sake of Meng Wanying, she wants to help you, but she doesn't want to help me. Looking at it this way, I suppose I'm just basking in my brother's reflected light."

"But how can she possibly help? By not collecting taxes?"

"A woman in her position wields considerable power, and her connections must be extraordinary. We shouldn't let this opportunity slip by—we should take a gamble!" Han Feng clenched his fist firmly, his eyes gleaming.

"Brother Feng, I really don't want the shares."

I emphasized it once more, fearing that Han Feng might overthink and assume I lacked integrity, trying to contend with him for power and profit so soon after arriving at the KTV.

Deep down, I felt immensely grateful to Han Feng.

Had he not taken me in at the KTV, I would have been homeless and wandering the streets by then.

"Brother, listen to me. When a business makes no money, shares aren't worth a damn. The reason I didn't pull you in from the start was that I didn't want that scoundrel Chu Hailong paying too much attention to you; after all, you're too young to fight him.

Since Zhao Hongling has brought this up, let's do it. Even if she's tricking us, we won't have lost anything. When all is said and done, this business belongs solely to us brothers."

Han Feng patted his chest forcefully, showing not a shred of insincerity.

"This..."

I remained deeply hesitant.

Becoming a shareholder was something I had never dared to imagine. Having just stepped out of school, I lacked not only corporate management experience but even the social experience required to be a male waiter.

"When an opportunity comes, you cannot miss it. Tomorrow is Sunday... the industry and commerce bureau won't be open, so the day after tomorrow, we'll go change the share registration."

Han Feng made the final decision, cutting off any further argument.

He then instructed Fu Xiaoya to waive the bill for Zhao Hongling and her group in private room 106 and accommodate their requests as much as possible.

That night,

I tossed and turned on the KTV sofa, unable to sleep.

No matter how I thought about it, I couldn't figure out why Zhao Hongling wanted me to become a shareholder. How would she help me?

And how would she help the KTV break out of its predicament and achieve development?

What would she demand of me in the future?

The next day,

Chang Sisi's demands arrived.

She called and asked me to buy a small white rabbit and bring it to her during her tutoring session.

I agreed with great reluctance.

I knew very well that this little rabbit's prospects were grim; like the little frog before it, it would most likely end up dissected and dismantled by her to be made into various specimens.

The mere thought of that scene felt utterly gruesome.

After lunch, I rode my bicycle to the farmers' market.

For ten yuan, I bought a little white rabbit with red eyes.

The old man selling pets even threw in a small iron cage and thoughtfully placed a few cabbage leaves inside.

Just as I was about to leave, I suddenly heard someone calling my name.

"Zhou Yang!"