A Divine Farmer

Chapter 226 - The Time for Revenge Has Come

“To deal with me?” Zhang Xiaolong chuckled. “What can he possibly do?”

Zhou Li, realizing he didn't believe her, explained with a wry smile, “I ended up not returning to my job and instead chose to open this shop because every job interview I had went well until the very end when Chu Peng's influence would ruin my chances. Even after I was hired, companies would prefer to pay a breach of contract fee rather than keep me on. The Chu family might not be the wealthiest in Qingyang City, but their clout in the business world is significant. No company wants to make an enemy of Chu Peng over a single employee like me.”

“To think someone would push a woman to such extremes in pursuit of her—it's despicable,” Zhang Xiaolong remarked, having assumed Zhou Li had simply left her job to start her own business, unaware of her ordeal. “Would you like to get even with him?”

“Get even?” Zhou Li echoed, puzzled.

Zhang Xiaolong grinned. “He's in the makeup business, right? If you join me here in the skincare industry and use our products along with your expertise to beat him, wouldn't that be the perfect lesson for him?”

Zhou Li's smile grew more strained. She wondered if he was really listening. Were the Chu family that easy to handle? They had been in the industry for years; how could a new makeup company hope to compete?

Her concern wasn't about her ability to outdo him; it was the potential trouble the Chu family could cause for Zhang Xiaolong. Yet, he seemed utterly oblivious to the danger.

“Ms. Zhou, there's no need for skepticism. Xiaolong's got a point. Just because we're a new company doesn't mean we lack strength. There have been cases of newcomers toppling the established giants,” Yang Jingjing said with a mischievous twinkle in her eye. “Have you heard of Elegant Dragon Drinks?”

“Of course, it's the hottest beverage in Qingyang City right now. At first, it was nearly impossible to find, and even now, it sells out regularly,” Zhou Li replied, still wondering what the beverage had to do with their situation.

“You're aware, then, that Elegant Dragon Drinks started as a mere small company, but in just a few months, it completely devoured the once market-dominating Strong Dragon Group,” Yang Jingjing said with a smile. “If even the Strong Dragon Group could be consumed, what chance does the Chu Family stand?”

“Are you really not concerned that I'll bring a lot of trouble?” Zhou Li, seeing Yang Jingjing's genuine intent, couldn't help but be somewhat swayed.

Zhang Xiaolong burst into laughter. “Trouble? What's there to fear? Encountering a bit of trouble in the early stages of a business and swiftly dealing with it paves the way for smoother growth later on. As you've pointed out, the Chu Family is in the makeup industry too. Whether or not you join us, our paths are bound to cross. Chu Peng has been ruthless to a woman; do you think he'd spare a competitor?”

“In that case, let's resolve this as quickly as possible!” Zhou Li's eyes sparkled with determination.

She may not have been a core executive at the All Light Company, but her tenure there had given her insights that could prove advantageous in overcoming such a rival.

“Exactly,” Zhang Xiaolong agreed enthusiastically. “If Chu Peng remains passive, so be it. But the moment he tries any tricks, we'll hit back hard and crush him. This is a golden opportunity for revenge. Wouldn't you want to be the one to make it happen?”

“Alright!” Zhou Li, emboldened, replied, “I really appreciate your trust. Mr. Zhang, rest assured, I will put in all my effort to grow this company.”

“There's no need for formalities among our own. Call me Xiaolong,” he said warmly. “This is Yang Jingjing, who will serve as the general manager of Essence Dragon Company, and you will be the vice president. And let me correct you: this isn't just my company; it belongs to all of us.”

“Welcome aboard, Ms Zhou,” Yang Jingjing greeted, offering her hand. “I've never been in the cosmetics industry, so I'll be relying on your expertise.”

“I'm the one who should be grateful,” Zhou Li responded, her voice tinged with emotion. “I have a passion for the cosmetics field, but I had to leave because of Chu Peng. If it hadn't been for meeting you, I might have been forced out of Qingyang City by now, uncertain of finding any peace at all.”

“Let's go celebrate!” Yang Jingjing proposed, “We can toast to our full team at the new company, or even preemptively celebrate our triumph over All Light Company!”

Zhang Xiaolong readily agreed and promptly phoned Chen Yaru. They all made their way to the restaurant they had reserved.

Just as they left, they spotted Chu Peng standing smugly in front of a store across the street, watching people scramble for sportswear. He turned and gave Zhou Li a taunting smile.

“Let him gloat for now,” Yang Jingjing said, taking Zhou Li by the hand. “Once our products hit the market, we'll see if they're still smiling.”

“Right.” Zhou Li wasn't one to act on impulse. Committed to her decision, she wouldn't waver. She took a deep breath and followed the group.

Zhang Xiaolong paused, eyeing Chu Peng for a few seconds. “We don't necessarily have to wait for our new product launch. While revenge is a dish best served cold, the best way to deal with a scoundrel like him is to give him a figurative slap in the face and take away his pride.”

“Don't get physical,” Yang Jingjing quickly interjected. “Annoying as he may be, he's using business tactics. If you hit him, it's illegal, and Ms Yaru and I certainly don't want to visit you in a detention center.”

Zhang Xiaolong chuckled. “Do I look like the violent type? He resorts to business tactics to bully; we'll use the same to give him a taste of his own medicine. Let's go. After dinner, we'll stage a little drama!”

The dinner was exceptionally pleasant. Chen Yaru and Zhou Li had met before and both had a favorable impression of the charming store owner.

Seeing Chen Yaru join them and the increased affection between her and Zhang Xiaolong, Zhou Li fully embraced what Yang Jingjing had told her earlier, erasing any lingering doubts.

As the meal wound down, Zhang Xiaolong shared his ideas, and Chen Yaru was the first to voice her support.

Since taking the helm at Soaring Dragon, her days had been a whirlwind of activity, and it had been quite some time since she'd had the chance to truly enjoy herself.

With Soaring Dragon now on more stable ground, and considering that it was Xiaolong who had proposed the game, it was only natural to lend him support.

Zhou Li and Yang Jingjing, of course, had no objections. The group eagerly began brainstorming ideas, determined to ensure Chu Peng had a blast.

An hour later, Chu Peng was once again standing leisurely on the street, curious to see if Zhou Li had come back. To his surprise, he noticed a significant increase in the number of customers outside Zhou Li's shop.

A sign stood at the shop's entrance announcing a clearance sale: each item for 60 yuan!

Chu Peng couldn't help but sneer. It appeared that Zhou Li was keen on offloading this batch of goods quickly to recover some of her investment.