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101: Chapter 101 Zhang Wei is finishedSure enough, within a week, three more clients proposed to terminate their cooperation.

The Procurement Director of one chain Supermarket brand spoke bluntly: ”President Zhang, we know Xuefen went to Shining Radiance. Word is spreading in the industry that Shining Radiance’s designs are better and their prices are lower. We need to re-evaluate this year’s advertising budget allocation.”

Misfortunes never come singly.

Just as Zhang Wei was at his wit’s end, the company’s CFO brought even worse news.

”President Zhang, we barely managed to pay last month’s salaries. If this continues this month, we might...” The CFO hesitated.

”Might what?”

”Might not be able to pay salaries.”

Zhang Wei felt a wave of dizziness.

He steadied himself against the desk and took a few deep breaths. ”What about the Bank? Can we get another loan?”

”We already owe the Bank three million, and we’ve had overdue records since last quarter. It’s very difficult to get another loan.”

That night, it was late when Zhang Wei returned home.

Zhi Tianzhen was sitting on the sofa watching TV. When she saw him return, she only glanced at him and continued watching.

”Why aren’t you asleep yet?” Zhang Wei tried to start a conversation.

”Waiting for you,” Zhi Tianzhen said flatly. ”You haven’t given me this month’s money yet. I’ve got my eye on a bag; it’s thirty-eight thousand.”

Zhang Wei frowned. ”The company isn’t doing too well lately. Can you buy the bag next month?”

Zhi Tianzhen finally turned to look at him, her eyes full of sarcasm. ”Zhang Wei, you’ve been saying that for three months. Last month you said the company was in trouble, and this month you say it again. Is that crappy company of yours even viable anymore?”

”What kind of attitude is that!” Zhang Wei flared up. ”When the company was doing well, I bought you whatever you wanted! Now that the company is facing some difficulties, you show me this face?”

”What face?” Zhi Tianzhen stood up. ”I’ve been with you for several years, being your trophy wife, accompanying you to social events, and keeping up appearances for you.”

”Now that your company is failing, you won’t even buy me a bag? Zhang Wei, what did you say when you were courting me? You said I’d never have to worry about money for the rest of my life!”

The two had a huge argument.

Finally, Zhi Tianzhen slammed the bedroom door shut, and Zhang Wei sat on the living room sofa all night.

The next day, Zhang Wei braced himself and borrowed money from a few friends, barely scraping together enough for the employees’ salaries.

But he knew this was only a temporary fix.

Meanwhile, Xinghui Company entered its busiest period since opening.

New clients kept pouring in, and the company had to expand its team.

Ji Guangli demonstrated excellent management skills, keeping the company running in an orderly fashion.

Cao Kun continued to execute his plan.

He instructed Wang Lei to launch a full-scale offensive on Xingchen’s remaining clients.

The quotes could be lowered further, as long as they didn’t lose money.

”President Cao, several of Xingchen’s major clients have already started contacting us proactively,” Wang Lei said excitedly at the weekly meeting. ”They heard that Xuefen chose us and all want similar terms.”

”Give it to them,” Cao Kun said without hesitation. ”Remember the principle: no loss, but no profit either. Our goal is Xingchen’s market share, not profit.”

”The business world is like a battlefield. Since he made a move against Guangli back then, he should have expected this day.”

Ji Guangli gently squeezed Cao Kun’s hand under the table, her eyes filled with complex emotions.

She hated Zhang Wei, but seeing a company that had been in business for fifteen years about to collapse, she still felt a bit of pity.

Cao Kun saw through her thoughts and whispered, ”Guangli, being kind to the enemy is being cruel to yourself. If we don’t completely crush him, he will surely retaliate once he recovers.”

Ji Guangli nodded; she knew Cao Kun was right.

...

Xingchen Advertising’s collapse came faster than expected.

After three consecutive months of declining business, the company’s cash flow completely snapped.

Zhang Wei tried to raise funds by transferring some equity, but potential investors were deterred by the company’s continuous loss of clients.

Finally, a collection notice from the Bank became the last straw that broke the camel’s back.

Because it had failed to pay loan interest on time for three consecutive months, the Bank demanded that Xingchen Advertising repay the entire three million loan early.

Zhang Wei begged everyone he could, but no one was willing to lend him money at this time.

In desperation, he tried to contact former clients, promising significant price cuts just to get some advance payments to alleviate the crisis.

But the clients had either already signed with Shining Radiance or were waiting and watching.

No one was willing to entrust important projects to a company that could go bankrupt at any time.

Finally, on the 98th day after Xinghui Company opened, Xingchen Advertising officially announced bankruptcy and liquidation.

On the day the news of the bankruptcy broke, the Xingchen Advertising office was in total chaos.

Employees surrounded the finance office, demanding immediate settlement of salaries and compensation.

Su Hongliang tried to maintain order but was pushed aside by the angry employees.

”Su Hongliang, stop acting like a good guy! If it weren’t for your incompetence, would the clients have been poached by Shining Radiance?”

”Where’s Zhang Wei? Tell him to come out! When will the three months of commissions you owe us be paid?”

”I’m going to Labor Arbitration! This crappy company should have gone bankrupt long ago!”

Zhang Wei hid in his office, listening to the noise outside with his head in his hands.

His phone rang incessantly with calls from suppliers demanding payment, Bank notifications, and lawyer’s letters.

What stung him the most was a wechat message from Zhi Tianzhen: ”I heard your company went bankrupt? Then our marriage has no meaning anymore. I’ve sent the divorce agreement to your email. Sign it; let’s part on good terms.”

Zhang Wei turned off his phone with a bitter smile.

He thought of his ex-wife, the woman who married him when he had nothing, only to be heartlessly abandoned by him after he became successful.

Now, history was repeating itself, only this time, he was the one being abandoned.

Three days later, Xingchen Advertising officially closed its doors.

The company’s assets were auctioned to repay debts. Employees received part of their salaries and compensation through Labor Arbitration, but commissions and bonuses vanished into thin air.

There was much discussion in the industry. No one expected Xingchen Advertising, which had been in business for fifteen years, to fall so quickly, let alone that it would be defeated by Shining Radiance, which had been established for less than a hundred days.

...

A week after Xingchen Advertising went bankrupt, Cao Kun held an all-staff meeting at Xinghui Company.

The meeting room was packed.

The company had expanded from fewer than twenty people initially to nearly fifty, with almost a third being former Shining Radiance employees.

”First of all, welcome all new colleagues to Xinghui Company,” Cao Kun said, standing at the front, his gaze scanning the room.

”I know some of you are from Xingchen Advertising. What I want to say is that the competition between Xinghui Company and Xingchen Advertising is over. From now on, we have only one goal: to make Xinghui Company the best advertising company in the industry.”

He paused. ”To celebrate the company’s milestone victory, everyone will receive an extra 3,000 yuan bonus this month.”

”In addition, starting next month, the company will implement an equity incentive plan. Outstanding employees will have the opportunity to obtain company shares.”

Thunderous applause broke out.

The former Xingchen Advertising employees finally breathed a sigh of relief.

They had made the right choice.

After the meeting, Cao Kun and Ji Guangli returned to the office.

”Zhang Wei called me yesterday,” Ji Guangli said suddenly.

Cao Kun raised an eyebrow. ”What did he say?”

”He begged me to let him go, saying he has nothing now, his house is being repossessed by the Bank, and Zhi Tianzhen has divorced him.” Ji Guangli’s tone was calm. ”I told him he brought all of this on himself.”

Cao Kun nodded without comment.

He walked to the window and looked down at the heavy traffic below.

Zhang Wei would be a thing of the past from now on.

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