Chapter 719: Transoceanic Negotiations

The next day, I was called outside the VIP building by Xiao Qins uncle, Ren HongDe, the chairman of the Qing Zi Education Group, who told me about his video call with Ai ShuQiao.

In order to eliminate Auntie Rens potential future worries, Ren HongDe, as the older brother, intended to use a certain percentage of the shares of Qing Zi Education Group in exchange for the freedom of me and Ai Mi.

Ren HongDes plan was worthy of respect, but I was not particularly optimistic about his plan.

On one hand, for Ai ShuQiao, interest is the key. If she still has a high interest in Ai Mi and me, then she may not even exchange our freedom for shares of the education group.

On the other hand, even Ren HongDe himself reckons that Ai ShuQiao will not let go of Ai Mi straight away and will keep squeezing her daughter for all that shes worth until she pa.s.ses her prime.

If it was just shares in exchange for my personal freedom, but Ai Mi will still be controlled by that old hag, then what would be the point.

As expected, Ren HongDe told me that although Ai ShuQiao showed some interest in the shares of Qing Zi Education Group, she had absolutely no intention of letting go of Ai Mi at first.

What a joke, although Im putting a foot in the pharmaceutical industry, but my main business is still an entertainment agency. How can I let my popular artists just terminate their contracts.

She did not put herself in the position of a mother, but spoke as if Ai Mi was simply an ordinary contracted artist.

However, we can talk about Ye Lin. According to Ren HongDes recollection, Ai ShuQiao smiled, without hiding her queenly att.i.tude of looking at her subjects with disdain, and said this to him through the screen.

Recently, I feel like this son of mine may not be as useful as I thought. As long as Mr. Ren proposes the right amount of shares, I may let go.

Although I knew that Ai ShuQiao was always so ruthless, I was still a little saddened to hear her say that.

It must be because she heard from Dr. Yu that I was in a potentially life-threatening state because I ate the b.u.t.terfly, so even if I surrendered to her, I wouldnt be able to be put to any use. Unlike Ai Mi, my value with her is currently approaching zero.

Why wouldnt she exchange a sickly and disobedient child for shares of a large conglomerate?

Im not surprised that Ai ShuQiao did this to me, but I dont want to see the day when she does the same to Ai Mi.

Even if I was defective goods in Ai ShuQiaos eyes, she still wanted to sell me for a good price and asked Ren HongDe for 10% of the groups shares.

Madam Ai ShuQiao, now youre the one whos joking. Ren HongDe said sternly, I personally only hold a total of 60% of the groups shares. If I give you 10%, I will have less than 51% of the shares and no absolute decision-making power over the group.

Also, if I sell more than 5% of the shares, according to the rules I have to convene with the rest of the board of directors.

Thats not my problem. Ai ShuQiao said coldly, And I never joke around.

Ren HongDe was also experienced in business negotiations, since he was an experienced old man. He began to argue with Ai ShuQiao, on one hand, suggesting that Ai ShuQiao should not be greedy, on the other hand, said: if you want 10% of the shares, Ye Lin and Ai Mi must be sold as a combo and its not worth it if they are split apart.

What the h.e.l.l, when did we become a part of KFCs combo meal?

But I have to say that Ren HongDe was right. If I was the only one who got free, it would be nearly pointless. Ren HongDe must have understood my feelings as we were both siscon, so he expressed this to Ai ShuQiao.

Mr. Ren, youre not sincere in the slightest. Ai ShuQiao accused Ren HongDe, You actually want to buy two children from a mother with only 10% of your shares

Ai ShuQiaos att.i.tude made Ren HongDe unable to keep calm.

Its because you dont deserve to be a mother, so Im going to let those two children go free. The person whos putting their children up for sale is you.

Everyone has a value. Ai ShuQiaos face did not change in the slightest, Some are worth more, some are worth less. If a mothers children are worth a lot of money, she should feel proud.

Mr. Ren, currently, Im filled with pride and I want to increase the value of my two children.

Over the years, Ren HongDe has seen a lot of backstabbing and immoral businessman, but its unprecedented to see someone like Ai ShuQiao who treats her children like objects. After all, the Chinese have the tradition which says even wild beasts look after their children. At least from a subjective point of view, there are many more who treat their parents poorly compared to those who treat their children poorly.

Ren HongDe could hardly understand how Ai ShuQiao could say those words without even blus.h.i.+ng and can have such a heartfelt smile with a clear conscience.

So, Mr. Ren, you should appreciate the good intentions of a mother, and then give me a sincere offer, how about 40%?

You Ren HongDe was almost unable to tolerate Ai ShuQiaos shamelessness, Why dont you just ask me hand over the chairman position to you?

The education sector? Ai ShuQiao laughed to himself, Im actually quite interested in being the chairman. I used to be a university teacher, now that I look back on it, it feels like a lifetime ago

Its true, at first my dad and Ai ShuQiao both attended the same school, then after graduation they both stayed behind to teach. They were also considered to be a perfect couple and envied. It was the reason why my dad suffered a huge shock when Ai ShuQiao seduced the foreign teacher, John, and then eloped with him to the United States.

Heres the deal. Ai ShuQiao did not remove the smile on her face, then requested Ren HongDe: I suddenly feel a bit of regret that I was only a teacher back then and did not become a princ.i.p.al how about you give me the position of the princ.i.p.al of Dong Shan citys Qing Zi Academy?

What did you say?

Ren HongDe frowned slightly. Although for the Qing Zi Education Group, which has branches in 26 cities across the country, the branch in Dong Shan city was no longer the most important a.s.set, but it was still the birthplace of the group. Ren HongDe was particularly attached to this place, which was why he acted as both the chairman of the board and the princ.i.p.al.

Why, Mr. Ren, did you not hear clearly? I guess its that your body doesnt work well once you are old. Do you want to try the anti-aging drugs developed by one of my research departments?

Madam Ai, please show some respect, I can hear you very clearly. Ren HongDe said with a grunt of exasperation, Why do you want to be the princ.i.p.al of Qing Zi Academy?

Ai ShuQiao replied with an att.i.tude of righteousness, Because you refused to give me 40% of the shares and wont let me be the chairman, so I had to settle for second best and become the princ.i.p.al for fun.

Being a princ.i.p.al is not a game.

Wrong. Ai ShuQiao relaxed against the back of her chair and crossed her fingers, Life is a game.

Youre in America, so are you going to come back to China to be the princ.i.p.al.

Impossible, Ill fly over for a visit every six months at most.

Wouldnt that be a princ.i.p.al in name only, what use would it have for you?

Who says its in name? Ai ShuQiao an eyebrow, I will a.s.sign a trusted aide to help me manage the schools affairs, and the accounts and expenditures will be reported to me.

So, you want to be a princ.i.p.al with actual power? Ren HongDe could not guess Ai ShuQiaos thoughts, Do you want to split the Academy from my group and use it as a pedestal to get your hands on the education industry in China.

No, no, no, that would be too much trouble. Ai ShuQiao laughed, If Qing Zi Education Group is already s.h.i.+elding me, why would I not take advantage of it and split off? I just want to have a better understanding of the Qing Zi Education Group.

Mr. Ren, although I have worked with you, and my daughter also attends your school, I still want to know in more detail how much money-making potential the school has, and whether there is still room for improvement

Ill use Qing Zi Academy and figure out how the school operates, so I may be more confident about the groups future, and by then, I may accept your offer, Mr. Ren.

The offer isnt valid if Ye Lin is the only one who is free. Ren HongDe reminded her.

Im a businessman, of course I will remember the other partys conditions. Im talking about giving freedom to both Ye Lin and Ai Mi.

29% of the shares, plus the right to operate three schools independently. Ai ShuQiao did not even pause for a second and immediately stated her own conditions.

Ill leave you with 31% of the shares, and according to my information, youll still be the person with the largest shareholding on the board of directors, and it wont affect your position as chairman.

But that would make you the second largest shareholder. Ren HongDe had a flat tone of voice.

My power is in the United States, while you and several other shareholders are long-time friends. Ai ShuQiao brought this to Ren HongDes attention, Are you still worried that I will usurp your power among the board of directors.

Ren HongDe did not answer Ai ShuQiaos question, but asked, How much freedom will you give them?

Ill pretend I never had those two children. Ai ShuQiao said lightly, I dont care if they live or die.

How can you ensure that?

Benefits, the most important benefits for businessmen. Ai ShuQiao replied, As long as I can receive more benefits from you than Ai Mi, its not necessary for me to keep her you have to know, its quite costly to control this little thing

Ai ShuQiao already treated me as something worth zero and sold me for free along with Ai Mi.

29% is too much, I can only give you 25% of the shares at most. Ren HongDes face was like steel.

25% is 25%, but as for the schools that are independently operated, including Qing Zi Academy, has to become four schools.

I cant give you the school in Shanghai, but the others are negotiable.

Then the deal is done. Ai ShuQiao extended out her hand to Ren HongDe in the video chat.

You have to first announce that you are letting your daughter quit the entertainment industry. Ren HongDe was not a fool, it was impossible to trust Ai ShuQiao with empty words and give out a quarter of the groups shares.