Chapter 404 - 236: Chen Xiao’s Grand Scheme

Chapter 404: Chapter 236: Chen Xiao’s Grand Scheme

Xu Wu nodded. "You’re awfully quick to speak for Shanyun Auto. Do you think they’ll go for it?"

"I can’t be sure, but it’s worth a discussion. Shanyun Auto values the overseas market and already has established sales channels in Southeast Asian countries. We could leverage their sales network to sell our products. That’s another potential area for cooperation."

Xu Wu hummed in agreement. "We can start by talking to them. If Shanyun doesn’t agree, we can always find other automakers to partner with. I think your plan is the most pragmatic approach for now."

"How is the rollout of Junxing Auto’s sales network coming along?"

"It’s on track. Xu Gang has been pushing himself hard lately. After all, he got a little nudge from the big boss at the annual meeting!"

Xu Wu was partly joking. Xu Gang’s achievements were due to his own hard work, but also to the support—and pressure—from her.

’It had nothing to do with him, Chen Xiao. He’d only given Xu Gang that pointer last weekend. What could anyone possibly accomplish over a two-day weekend?’

"We can have the PR team start releasing some teasers about the Junxing Intelligent Driving system, the smart cockpit, and the intelligent chassis."

"The goal is to create online buzz and build hype for the upcoming Junxing M7. Also, we have a definitive lead in smart ambient lighting, so we should produce some promotional videos for that and let them build traction online first."

Xu Wu agreed with Chen Xiao’s plan. She smiled and said, "Looks like you appearing on Xiangzi 7:30 wasn’t such a bad thing after all. It’s given you some insight into the new energy vehicle industry’s trends and playbook."

"Of course. Why else would I have gone on?"

"Most people online thought you went on the show to give Shanyun Auto a boost, but little did they know you were actually there to throw shade at them!"

Her words made Chen Xiao laugh as well. He recalled Jin Wuxian’s flustered, exasperated expression. ’So silly, yet kind of cute!’

"You should get more involved in the Group’s affairs from now on."

Huh? Chen Xiao jumped, thinking Xu Wu was overwhelmed with work and wanted him to take on some of the load.

’No way. For one, he was lazy. But more importantly, if he officially took a position at Junxiao Group, the system would judge him as "not diligent." Once his Diligence Points hit zero, it would be game over!’

’The massive funds required for all his current business operations were dependent on exploiting loopholes in the system’s Diligence Reward bonuses.’

’If his Diligence Points were zeroed out, or if the system decided to reboot for a year, all his current projects would instantly lose their massive cash flow support!’

’They would collapse in an instant!’

"Don’t look so scared. I got the idea from you being on Xiangzi 7:30. I wouldn’t dare trouble your esteemed self to come to the office and rack your brain!"

"But you can help the Group spot some problems while you’re out having fun or relaxing."

"For example, we currently have six Junxiao Squares. After the New Year, that number will increase to eight or even nine."

"We acquired all of these malls. Initially, we relied on the Group’s significant financial resources and marketing campaigns to solidify their commercial standing in their respective regions. But there are some inherent problems with this approach."

"The quality of the original management personnel is inconsistent. Because the acquisitions were rushed, we kept the original teams on. Except for the general and deputy managers, the rest of the staff haven’t even gone through our company’s training, nor do they understand our corporate culture."

"A team like that is basically a disorganized mess. If it weren’t for the Group’s massive capital injections, they’d have no real fighting power."

"And there’s one more thing that’s even more frightening: corruption in the commercial sector is nothing new."

"Take Wansheng Square, for example. The Wansheng group has strong anti-corruption measures, but their various malls still have issues with personnel demanding kickbacks and favors. The last time I was back in Qingyun, their deputy general manager there had some very clear, shady dealings with Feichi Auto."

Chen Xiao instantly understood what Xu Wu was getting at.

’Forget about a prime project like Junxiao Square; even at struggling properties, the management staff have ways to line their own pockets.’

’From a brand’s perspective, it’s simple: ’Do you want a better location? A lower rent? It just so happens I have the authority to grant that. If you show a little... appreciation, I can give you some preferential treatment.’’

’At a high-quality location like the two Junxiao Squares in Jiangzhou, there are hundreds of businesses lining up for a spot. The moment a space opens up, people are fighting tooth and nail to get in.’

’Because getting in means making money. In that kind of environment, isn’t corruption inevitable? If management is even slightly lax, it will pop up immediately.’

Xu Wu’s concern was that by acquiring so many malls at once, they had also inherited veteran employees who were likely accustomed to demanding kickbacks and favors.

After all, the properties they were acquiring were all prime locations. It was impossible for such situations not to exist; in fact, they were probably rampant.

After the acquisition, Junxiao Business Management had also allocated substantial marketing funds. These funds were a resource for each mall’s management team. If a manager gave a targeted subsidy to a specific brand, that resource could be exchanged for a "donation" from that brand.

The better the mall, the more resources it has. And the more resources, the more fertile the ground for corruption. It was inevitable.

"We need to strengthen our auditing. Have Xu Jun expand the audit department. We must have a zero-tolerance policy for abuse of power for personal gain. Investigate every single case, and for the serious offenders, send them straight to prison."

’It wasn’t that he was being cruel. If this wasn’t stamped out, no matter how much money Junxiao Group poured in, it would just become a tool for individuals to enrich themselves. It would completely defeat the original purpose of benefiting the customers and the malls themselves.’

Xu Wu’s words were a wake-up call. He finally understood her true meaning. He didn’t have to get involved in the Group’s day-to-day management, but he could make unannounced visits, like an emperor inspecting his domain in disguise.

He could have fun and help the Group uncover problems at the same time.