"Sir, I can't be the president anymore. Please recall me!" Hao Jianguo said indignantly, standing beside the old man.
"What, resent that I didn't help you?" The old man glared at Hao Jianguo, who quickly shook his head, claiming he dared not, though deep down he felt exactly that, even harboring some resentment towards the old man.
For all this stemmed from this old man. Huang He's order to find convenience store partners had been issued a month ago, yet Hao Jianguo had produced no results within that month. Huang He's anger was palpable.
Therefore, Hao Jianguo completely understood Huang He's sudden ultimatum of three days and the intense pressure, as he had accomplished nothing in the previous month.
However, the problem wasn't his lack of ability, but rather someone secretly obstructing him. And that person was this old man, who had even told Hao Jianguo directly. His motive was to create significant difficulties for Jiangnan Group's operations in the United States, forcing Huang He to seek help from American forces, meaning cooperation with capital and listing Jiangnan Group in the US. Thus, he had to ensure Jiangnan Group's development was fraught with obstacles.
So, when Hao Jianguo presented Huang He's plan to find convenience store chains as partners, the old man explicitly told him he would instruct the convenience store owners to reject any cooperation with BL.
"So I believe that if Huang He knew the truth, he would be even less likely to do something like this. He must have even more sinister means!" Hao Jianguo said hurriedly.
"That does make some sense!" The old man nodded, also feeling that if his guess were true, Huang He's methods were too superficial, not aligning with the depth of his previous stratagems.
"Then why did he push you so hard, without any mercy?" the old man asked, perplexed.
"Is there a possibility that Huang He doesn't trust me enough yet, that he still suspects me, and thus wants to test me?" Hao Jianguo ventured cautiously.
"Indeed, that must be it!" The old man nodded, a smile finally gracing his lips. "Yes, Huang He is testing you. After all, your background as an international student is the biggest issue. According to my investigation, none of the high-level executives at Jiangnan Group's headquarters have studied abroad."
"And it's very difficult for people with overseas study backgrounds to even reach the middle management in Jiangnan Group. Therefore, many employees with such backgrounds have resigned due to a lack of prospects!" The old man tapped the table. "Huang He inherently distrusts those who have studied abroad, and your background fits that description perfectly. He has always been uneasy about you, hence the need to test you. What a cunning fellow. This tactic isn't like a 29-year-old; it's more like something a 69-year-old like me would devise."
"Phew, this Huang He is indeed cunning!" Hao Jianguo quickly agreed.
"However, thinking about it, Huang He's cunning isn't entirely wrong. His wariness towards those with overseas study backgrounds is also justified, as you are indeed a pawn in my hands!" The old man suddenly burst into laughter. Hao Jianguo forced a smile, but a wave of sorrow washed over him.
His life was truly pathetic, being treated as a pawn by foreigners and suspected by his own countrymen. He felt he had no human standing anywhere, a profound tragedy.
"Since this is Huang He's test, let's put Huang He's mind at ease. Sir, please lift your warnings to the convenience stores!" Hao Jianguo whispered. As long as the old man withdrew his warnings, he was confident he could reach a cooperation agreement with the convenience stores within three days.
"No!" To his surprise, the old man flatly refused. "You're a fool. Someone as cunning as Huang He must have conducted thorough investigations beforehand and knows that a force is obstructing the convenience store groups from behind the scenes."
"If you can't persuade me, the mastermind behind it, to back down within three days, how can you possibly complete the mission? But if you do complete it, it proves you've made a deal with me, the mastermind, further solidifying your identity as a pawn!"
"So, if you actually complete the mission within three days, it will only expose your identity!" the old man sneered, making Hao Jianguo's blood run cold.
These people, constantly scheming like this, weren't they afraid of premature aging and dying from exhaustion? After all, even someone as brilliant as Zhuge Liang met his end this way. Couldn't they just live honestly without so many complex schemes?
Hao Jianguo lamented inwardly, then looked pleadingly at the old man, as if asking for a reliable solution.
"What are you looking at me for?" The old man spread his hands. "To avoid exposing your identity as a pawn, you must solve the problem independently, without relying on any other power."
"So you need to figure it out yourself. If you are not my pawn, and you must complete the task within three days, what should you do?" the old man asked.
"This... I... I should..." Hao Jianguo was stunned, having never considered this question.
"Fool!" The old man stomped his foot in anger. "Don't you already have the answer? You yourself said your subordinates have started researching cooperating with local small convenience stores to achieve the goal. This is your only potential way out. Just execute this plan, why don't you?"
"But this plan requires such vast manpower and resources that it's impossible to complete within three days..."
"You... why did I ever choose such a fool as my pawn? God, please, just think about it. Huang He gave you three days, but will he really fire you after three days?"
"No, he wants to test you. So, as long as you put in 120% effort, even if you finish the task in 30 days, I guarantee Huang He won't punish you at all. Instead, he will praise you highly!"
"Furthermore, do you think I have no influence over those local convenience stores?"
"Go ahead and do it. I will mobilize all my resources to help you. You can complete the task within five days at the most... Completing the task, but exceeding the three-day time limit... This is the most perfect response to counter assumptions and doubts, the best outcome. Do you understand, you foolish pawn!"
"Yes!" Hao Jianguo lowered his head, while a devil within him raged fiercely.
The old man never dreamed that this foolish pawn would, at this moment, develop thoughts unbecoming of a pawn.