My heart is tied to that sky

Chapter 26: The Two Generals Calmly Respond to the Battle

It was still the golden autumn of 2014, at the same meeting.

Inside the Zhejiang Water Qingyang Industrial Group, the atmosphere at the meeting remained tense and fluctuating.

After all the regional reports were completed, the atmosphere shifted towards the official start point.

Tang Muyang straightened his expression and spoke in a steady voice.

"As everyone has heard, Hezhou is stable, Shanghai is thriving, Lingnan is developing rapidly, and Beijing is taking shape. The overall layout is beginning to take shape, but the external threats are severe."

"With Shanghai-based Henderson Land Development maliciously suppressing the company and Beijing-based Raycus Capital eyeing it covetously, the company is facing attacks from two fronts, and the struggle will only intensify."

"After Jia Hui and Jianguo got married, core staff were transferred out, leaving vacancies in the two core positions of sales and finance at headquarters."

"After a rigorous selection process, the group has officially brought in two high-profile senior executives to address management shortcomings and fully meet external challenges."

As soon as he finished speaking, all eyes turned to the entrance.

Su Man, dressed in a well-tailored black business suit, exuded a calm and composed aura as she strode in.

Tang Muyang raised his hand to introduce her, his voice strong: "This is Su Man, recommended by Chairman Lu Zhenting."

"A seasoned business leader and seasoned professional manager, she has taken over as the sales manager at the group headquarters."

"Su Man's task is to fully fill the market operation gap after Yang Liu's transfer, strengthen sales coordination and channel development, take the lead in the group's operations, and coordinate responses to various market competitions."

Su Man bowed slightly, her eyes clear: "Thank you for your trust, President Tang. I will do my best."

The audience erupted in applause. On the big screen, Tang Jianguo's eyes widened in disbelief.

He nudged Yang Liu quietly: "Look, wife, your aura is even stronger than yours back in the day!"

"Don't talk nonsense, focus on the meeting." Yang Liu covered her mouth and chuckled, then gently pinched him.

Tang Muyang raised his hand again and looked at Ye Zhi Qiu, who was standing beside him: "This is Ye Zhi Qiu, a finance master's graduate from overseas."

"Gong Yiqing was recommended by Chairman Gong Chong'an to take over as the Chief Financial Officer of the Group headquarters."

Ye Zhi Qiu was dressed in a simple suit, with a cool and aloof temperament, gentle eyes and brows, and a slightly bowed posture, his expression calm and generous.

Tang Muyang's voice was calm and steady: "Ye Zhi Qiu is responsible for the group's financial compliance, meticulousness, and digital management."

"We will fully assume the core management responsibilities following Zhou Yanting's transfer. We will strictly control the group's financial lifeline and resist the impact of risks in the capital market."

Ye Zhi Qiu looked up and his gaze met Gu Zhi Xing's across the distance at the Kyoto branch venue.

Both of them paused slightly, then nodded politely in acknowledgment.

Gu Zhixing pushed up his glasses, his fingers unconsciously stroking the edge of the document, his gaze lingering on Ye Zhiqiu's face on the screen for a moment.

Gong Yiqing rose gracefully and addressed the audience.

"Su Man has been deeply involved in the market for many years and has a tough style. Ye Zhi Qiu has top-notch risk control and budgeting capabilities."

"The addition of these two individuals will make the management of Qingyang headquarters more stable and efficient, and better able to cope with the current challenges from all sides."

As soon as he finished speaking, thunderous applause erupted, and the video conference venues also cheered in unison.

At the Hezhou branch venue, Peng Jiahui still carefully supported Zhou Yanting, and smiled as he looked at the camera.

"President Tang, Yanting is gone, and a stronger CFO has arrived. The group's finances will be more secure from now on."

Just as Zhou Yanting was about to respond, another wave of discomfort washed over her. She covered her mouth again, leaned forward slightly, and her face turned pale.

Peng Jiahui panicked instantly and tried to calm him down in a soft voice.

Tang Jianguo's eyes lit up, and he immediately shouted in his loud voice, "Wife, Yanting is making a move!"

Yang Liu glanced at him helplessly and muttered a reproachful tone, "You... sigh! You're so nosy."

"I need to work harder so that someone will call me 'Dad' next year!" He scratched his head and grinned foolishly, then turned to look at Yang Liu with a serious expression.

Yang Liu's cheeks flushed instantly, and she shyly covered her face, looking charming and lovely.

The entire room erupted in laughter, and the tense atmosphere of the meeting was instantly dispelled by this warm and heartwarming moment.

Taking advantage of the relaxed atmosphere, Tang Muyang looked at Gu Zhixing and Ye Zhiqi and arranged for subsequent collaborative work.

"In dealing with Raycus Capital in the Kyoto area, please take some time these next few days to liaise with Director Ye Zhiqi and work closely together to build a solid risk control defense."

Gu Zhixing immediately stood up, looked at Ye Zhiqi sincerely, and said solemnly, "Thank you for the arrangement, President Tang. We will cooperate fully."

Ye Zhi Qiu nodded slightly, his eyes gentle and polite: "Manager Gu, you're too kind. We can handle this together."

Their eyes met, and a subtle, almost imperceptible, attraction blossomed between them, a testament to their professionalism and tacit understanding.

Tang Jianguo, always eager for a good show, whispered to Yang Liu, but his loud voice couldn't be suppressed, and everyone in the room could hear him clearly.

"Woman, this isn't a meeting, it's practically a rendezvous with roses! Look at their tone and eyes, they'll be seduced sooner or later!"

Yang Liu couldn't help but laugh out loud and lightly punched him: "You talk too much. I was fooled by you back then."

Tang Jianguo immediately straightened up, hugged her tightly, and said earnestly, "This isn't a lie, it's love!"

He counted on his fingers again: "Gu Zhixing, Ye Zhiqiu." He muttered to himself while looking at the two people in the split-screen window.

"Knowledge and action mean knowing how to act. 'Ye Zhi Qiu' means 'when the leaves fall, autumn arrives.' This... this autumn, can you still hold on?"

Yang Liu was thoroughly amused by his absurd reasoning and couldn't help but laugh so hard she collapsed into his arms.

Tang Muyang's lips twitched, and he muttered under his breath, "I might have to find someone else."

Gong Yiqing gracefully covered her mouth and chuckled, then leaned close to her husband's ear: "It looks a bit like it; we need to fill in the blank for headquarters."

Seeing their reactions, Tang Jianguo shouted again, "Wife, see? I wasn't wrong, was I? Mu Yang is about to fill in the blank!"

"Your jinx is pretty accurate, but a beautiful woman and a hero are quite a good match." Yang Liu gently patted his arm.

The video conference was filled with jubilation and warmth, and the tension of the previous business battle melted away in the small, heartwarming interactions.

Tang Muyang raised his hand to suppress the applause, a relieved and composed smile appearing on his face, his eyes regaining their firmness.

"Okay, jokes aside, with external competitors putting pressure on us and capital eyeing us, and internal fresh blood being injected into us, this is a critical period for development."

"With the addition of Su Man and Ye Zhi Qiu, Qingyang's management team is now complete. The good news of Yan Ting's pregnancy is an even greater joy for our group."

"You can work hard outside with peace of mind. Headquarters is as stable as Mount Tai. From now on, we will work together as one."

"We can not only win tough battles in the market, but also safeguard our own happiness, making Qingyang Industry bigger and stronger!"

The audience erupted in enthusiastic applause, a mix of high spirits as business battles loomed ahead and heartwarming expressions of family joy.

The interplay of these two emotions filled the entire meeting with both power and warmth.

After the meeting ended, Tang Muyang did not leave immediately, but looked at Gu Zhixing's split-screen window.

"Zhixing, since there are frequent capital movements in Kyoto, relying solely on remote communication is too inefficient. Fly to the Zhejiang headquarters tomorrow or the day after."

"Zhi Qiu has just taken over the finance department and is not yet familiar with the specific business in Kyoto. You need to align the risk control model in person."

A barely perceptible hint of surprise flashed in Gu Zhixing's eyes, but he quickly regained his composure.

"Okay, Mr. Tang, I'll book the next available flight right away. It should arrive at headquarters this afternoon."

Upon hearing this arrangement, Ye Zhi Qiu gently tightened her grip on the pen, a faint blush rising to her ears.

However, he maintained a professional demeanor: "Understood, I will prepare the relevant materials in advance and wait for Manager Gu to come and coordinate."

After cutting off the video conference, Su Man swiftly convened a meeting with the sales department at headquarters the next day.

Gu Zhixing's flight took a direct flight from Kyoto and landed smoothly at Xiaoshui Airport.

He didn't even go back to the hotel; he left his suitcase at the front desk and appeared at Ye Zhi Qiu's office door, looking travel-worn.

In his office, Ye Zhi Qiu began organizing the financial data for the Kyoto project.

She had just finished arranging a stack of documents when there was a knock on the office door.

"Come in." Ye Zhi Qiu looked up, thinking it was her assistant bringing coffee, but she didn't expect to see a tall and handsome man standing at the door.

Gu Zhixing was wearing a dark gray trench coat, clearly having just gotten off the plane and rushed over.

Her hair still carried a hint of travel fatigue, but her eyes remained bright and sharp.

"Director Ye, excuse me." Gu Zhixing smiled gently, holding a document in his hand.

"President Tang asked me to discuss the flow of funds in Kyoto with you as soon as possible. Are you available now?"

Ye Zhi Qiu looked at the man in front of her, whom she had just seen in the video.

Now that the real person is standing in front of me, the sense of oppression and attraction seems to be even stronger.

She took a deep breath, stood up, and pointed to the chair opposite her.

"Manager Gu, you're too kind. Please have a seat. I just finished compiling the reports for last quarter, and I have some questions I'd like to ask you."

Gu Zhixing pulled out a chair and sat down, pushing the documents in front of her. His fingers were long and slender, and his nails were neatly trimmed.

"This is Raycus Capital's trading record in the secondary market over the past three months."

"I suspect they are conducting related-party transactions through several shell companies." Gu Zhixing leaned forward slightly.

Pointing to a red line on the chart, "The timing of the cash flow was very coincidental, exactly one day before we released our financial report."

Ye Zhi Qiu leaned closer to the screen, her hair falling down unintentionally and brushing against Gu Zhi Xing's hand.

Gu Zhixing stiffened slightly, but did not dodge; his gaze remained focused on the data.

His voice lowered slightly: "Director Ye, what do you think we should do to close this funding gap?"

Ye Zhi Qiu withdrew his gaze, tapped the table lightly with his fingertips, and pondered for a moment.

"If I were Jiang Ruoxi, I would choose to launch the second round of fundraising at the beginning of next month, at a critical juncture in our supply chain settlement."

"Therefore, we need to prepare a bridge loan in advance to disrupt their plans."

"Just as I thought." Gu Zhixing looked at her, his eyes full of admiration. "Director Ye is indeed a professional."

"However, the source of this bridge loan needs to be coordinated with several banks, and in this regard we will have to rely on Director Ye's connections."

"No problem, my dad and the president of Zhejiang Water Commercial Bank are old acquaintances, I'll handle this."

Ye Zhi Qiu readily agreed and then looked up at him.

"However, we'll have to trouble Manager Gu to take care of the specific business in Kyoto."

"After all, I don't want fluctuations in the capital market to affect production on the front lines."

"Don't worry." Gu Zhixing's smile deepened as he looked at her serious expression.

"With me here, Raycus Capital won't be able to take a single piece of flesh from Qingyang."

The two exchanged a glance, and something seemed to be quietly growing in the air.

It's not just about tacit understanding in the workplace, but also about appreciating a worthy opponent.

Meanwhile, Henderson Land Development in Shanghai...

A loud bang came from Gao Tianlang's office; it was his fist slamming hard on the table.

"Useless! All of you are useless!"

Assistant Lin Zhou stood nervously to the side, holding a newly printed report in his hand.

"Mr. Gao, this is... an announcement just released by Qingyang Industry."

Gao Tianlang grabbed the report, which read: Qingyang Industry announced the introduction of senior financial expert Ye Zhiqi and sales elite Su Man, and reached a deep risk control cooperation with Gu Zhixing of the Kyoto branch, fully launching a dual-engine strategy of technology + industry.

"Ye Zhi Qiu? Su Man?" Gao Tianlang gritted his teeth as he muttered those two names.

"Tang Muyang has brought out his trump card!"

He suddenly stood up, walked to the French windows, looked at the bustling Shanghai night view outside, his eyes filled with malice.

"You think you can stop me by hiring two people? Dream on!"

"Lin Zhou, investigate! Investigate Ye Zhi Qiu and Su Man's backgrounds. I refuse to believe they're without any blemishes!"

"Also, contact Jiang Ruoxi at Raycus Capital and tell her that if she wants a piece of the pie, she should act quickly."

"Don't wait until Qingyang Industry really takes off, or she won't even get a taste of the profits!"

Lin Zhou nodded quickly: "Yes, Mr. Gao, I'll take care of it right away."

Gao Tianlang looked out the window, a sinister smile curling at the corner of his mouth.

"Tang Muyang, do you think you have victory in the bag? The game has only just begun."

Meanwhile, at the headquarters of Zhejiang Water Qingyang Industry, Ye Zhiqi and Gu Zhixing were still discussing countermeasures in their office.

As darkness fell outside the window, the office lights seemed especially warm.

"Director Ye, you've had a long day. Would you like to have dinner together?" Gu Zhixing glanced at the time and suddenly asked.

"I know a nice Japanese restaurant nearby. It's quiet and suitable for discussing work."

Ye Zhi Qiu paused for a moment, then smiled and said, "Okay, I'm hungry too, but you'll have to treat me."

"Of course." Gu Zhixing gentlemanly helped her pick up her coat. "It's my honor to invite Director Ye to dinner."

The two walked out of the office side by side, their shadows stretched long and overlapping in the corridor light.

It seemed to foreshadow some wonderful beginning.

Meanwhile, Tang Muyang was sitting at home, watching Gong Yiqing coax her daughter to sleep.

The phone notified Gu Zhixing of a WeChat message: "President Tang, the coordination with Director Ye has been completed, and everything went smoothly."

"In addition, I found that Director Ye is not only highly professional, but also has a lovely personality."

Tang Muyang couldn't help but laugh out loud when he saw the message.

Gong Yiqing leaned closer curiously: "What are you laughing at? Why are you so happy?"

Tang Muyang handed her his phone: "Look, our Manager Gu is interested."

Gong Yiqing glanced at it and smiled, "Zhi Qiu is indeed outstanding. However, whether Gu Zhixing can win her over depends on himself."

Tang Muyang put his arm around his wife's shoulder and said, "Yang Liu is right, the two of them are quite well-matched."

"Our Qingyang Industrial Group not only needs to have cutting-edge technology and industry, but also an enviable love story."

Outside the window, the moonlight was perfect, and a gentle breeze brought the warmth of autumn.

Qingyang Industry's large ship is sailing against the wind and waves towards a wider sea.

Everyone on board is striving towards the same goal.

Whether it's the competition in the marketplace or the entanglements of emotions, they will all become the most moving scenery on this great ship.