Huo Zhentang didn't arrive until almost half past twelve at noon, and Pang Xun had already eliminated three plates of pork belly. Wu Mian also ate two plates, and his appetite seems to have become particularly good recently, and the amount of food has increased significantly.

The two greeted Huo Zhentang warmly, and after a polite exchange, they both sat down. Pang Xun called for a few cans of beer and filled them for the three of them.

"Xiao Wu, I heard the fat man say that you have been promoted, and now you are the director of news, congratulations!" Huo Zhentang raised his wine glass, "Come, I would like to toast you." ”

He is of medium height, with thick eyebrows, and bright eyes, revealing a shrewd, capable but steady look, although he said "toast", but after clinking glasses, he only took a small sip and put it down, obviously a person with strong self-control.

"Thank you, thank you. Wu Mian smiled and drank half a glass of beer, picked up a piece of roasted fat cow with tongs and put it on Huo Zhentang's plate, "I heard that you have also been promoted and raised, and now you are the chief investigation director of the 'James Investigation', in charge of forty or fifty people, much better than me, the so-called 'supervisor' who only has two or three broken guns, it should be me congratulating you!"

"Hey, don't make fun of me. Huo Zhentang smiled bitterly, "The fat man told you, our boss is going to sell the company, God knows who the new boss will be! If it is a colleague who has offended before, it will definitely be difficult in the future." ”

"What if you can't sell it? I heard the fat man say that your boss is asking for a very high price, and no one is willing to buy it. ”

"That's worse. I guess the boss has already made up his mind, and if he really can't sell it, he will simply close the business and dismiss all of us. Huo Zhentang sighed, and sent the fat cow into his mouth to chew slowly, looking unpleasant.

"What are you sighing for, with your rich experience in this industry, even if you are dismissed, you can easily find a new job!" Pang Xun comforted him.

"Of course I'm okay with myself, but it's hard to get a group of brothers who have been with me for more than ten years. Now that the private detective industry is almost saturated, I'm afraid most of them will be unemployed. Huo Zhentang said sullenly.

Wu Mian took a sip of wine: "I want to ask, how much does your boss sell the company?"

"Five million!"

"Oh, it's really high. As far as I know, to register a detective company called 'Consulting and Investigation', hundreds of thousands of capital is enough, even if you want to buy a lot of imported equipment and equipment, two or three million is about the same. ”

"That's different. Huo Zhentang waved his hand, "Seriously, our boss is quite fair to offer this price." We are the best investigative company in the province, operating for more than 10 years, with a strong foundation and a wider network than most of our peers. I can say without exaggeration that no matter which industry or company the customer wants to investigate, as long as it is in this province, we are sure to complete the task!"

"I know that you are recognized as the number one in the industry. Wu Mian lowered his voice and said, "I also heard that even some investigations against government departments and officials, you dare to take orders, and they are basically successfully completed, right?"

Huo Zhentang laughed, neither admitting nor denying it, picked up a few pieces of mutton with tongs and roasted them slowly.

Wu Mian knew that he had a cautious personality and was unwilling to reveal business secrets casually, so he didn't mention it and changed the topic: "Lao Huo, have you ever thought that you will be in charge of the company and take over all assets and personnel?"

"Of course I did. But I don't have that much money. Huo Zhentang sighed, "If I have five million, I will definitely buy it immediately." In the past few years, our boss has been in a semi-retired state for a long time, and after I was promoted to chief investigation director a few months ago, he basically completely threw himself off, and I was actually in charge of all the work. ”

Wu Mian and Pang Xun looked at each other and smiled when they heard this, picked up their wine glasses and clinked glasses with each other, looking full of interest.

Huo Zhentang was in a hurry, and after roasting the mutton and sending it to his mouth, he suddenly said: "By the way, Xiaopang, you said that there is a buyer who is very interested in the 'James Survey' and has a strong willingness to buy, who is it?"

"Far away, close at hand. Pang Xun pointed at Wu Mian.

"What? is Xiao Wu?" Huo Zhentang was stunned, "You're not joking, are you?"

"No kidding. Wu Mian took the initiative to take over the conversation and said with a smile, "I went to Hong Kong to play last month, and I won a Mark Six jackpot with good luck, which is equivalent to more than 8 million yuan. I'm looking to invest in something, and James Surveys is the right company for me!"

Huo Zhentang was a little surprised at first, but immediately frowned: "If you want to invest, isn't it better to buy a house and buy stocks?

"What's good?" Pang Xun interjected, "Eight million, that is, to buy a few houses, and earn a maximum of hundreds of thousands of rents a year, what is the profit? Ah Mian has had great ambitions since he was a child, so he disdains to be a 'charter man'!"

"Hundreds of thousands is enough! The competition in the private detective industry is very fierce, and our boss said that his net profit in a year is almost three or four hundred thousand!"

"Money is not the most important thing to me. Wu Mian said seriously, "Information is priceless." What I like is the detective company's powerful ability to gather information!"

Huo Zhentang suddenly realized: "You want to use the information we have collected to help you make news?"

"Yes, with scoops, you can make a lot of scoops. "I have always believed that the two professions of journalists and detectives have a lot in common - we all need to find clues, discover the truth, track down the parties when necessary, and even use various means such as disguise, lurking, and undercover to achieve our goals." ”

Pang Xun also said: "An excellent reporter must definitely have the quality of a detective. The only difference is that when you find out the truth, you only need to report it to the customer, while we are open to the public!"

Huo Zhentang nodded, and said with a dumb smile: "It seems that you guys have been beating my idea for a long time, right?"

"Ha, I'll tell you the truth, I just started beating you up. Wu Mian smiled, "But the fat man has been beating you for a long time, and he has always wanted to use your strength to help him work, so that he can be lazy." ”

Pang Xun admitted unashamedly: "Yes, I had this idea a long time ago, but at that time, I wanted to spend money as a customer and hire Lao Huo to follow up the clues for me." But then I inquired, your charges were too expensive for me to pay, so I had to give up. But now that Amin has made a fortune, my idea can finally come true!"

Huo Zhentang muttered: "The idea is good, but I want to remind you that from the perspective of cost performance, it is really not cost-effective, and it may cost a lot of money in exchange for one or two really useful clues." ”

"Of course it's not cost-effective, otherwise all the media would have done it a long time ago. We call this 'hurting others with our own money', using money to seize a competitive advantage. Pang Xun said vaguely, and his mouth was stuffed with barbecue again.

Wu Mian said in a deep voice: "Open the skylight and say something bright, I don't expect this detective company to make a lot of money for me, as long as the income and expenditure can be balanced, and even if I want to post a little upside down, it's no problem." ”

He paused and said calmly: "My intention is to master a secret force with a professional level, which can quickly find the clues I want when needed, and help my media establish a strong reputation as soon as possible." In this way, the media itself can make a lot of money, which is enough to cover the expenses of the detective company. ”

"I see. Huo Zhentang perked up, "Then you can buy the 'James Survey'." Hehe, so that my subordinates don't have to worry about being dismissed. It's a win-win!"

He picked up his phone: "I'll call my boss and tell him the good news." Let's make an appointment for you two to meet in person......"

"Wait. Wu Mian pressed Huo Zhentang's hand, "Old Huo, you listen to me first." Although I paid for the company, I didn't want to do it. It's up to you to negotiate this deal with your boss. ”

"You don't come forward?" Huo Zhentang said in surprise, "Do you want to entrust me to negotiate the details and wait for the settlement to come out and sign?"

"No! I'm not going to show up. Wu Mian smiled and said, "You just told your boss that you wanted to buy 'James Survey'." I'll transfer the five million to your bank account tomorrow. ”

Huo Zhentang was taken aback: "You're not joking, are you?"

"I'm very serious. I want you to be the boss of James Surveys yourself. Because I don't know much about the industry itself, or about your company. Rather than having a layman lead an insider, I would like to let you, the expert, take over directly, and I'm happy to have it easy. ”

Huo Zhentang was stunned for a few seconds before he came back to his senses: "I understand." You just want to be the boss behind the 'James Investigations', and I will direct and take care of the work on the table. ”

That can also be understood in this way. Wu Mian said sincerely, "But I promise you that in the future, I will only deliver tasks to you to execute, and set a general direction for you in business, but I will not dictate specific business." In other words, you'll be a real boss, not a wrinkle with no real power. ”

Huo Zhentang's eyes showed gratitude, and he patted his thigh and said, "Okay! With your words, I will be mixed with you in the future! Don't worry, I will put me in the right position." The real boss is still you, and I, the general manager you appointed, will carry out your orders to the letter. ”

He took out his notebook and tore off a piece of paper, and wrote an IOU in a smug manner, the content of which was that he borrowed 5 million yuan from Wu Mian, and used "James Investigation" as collateral, and after writing it, he solemnly signed his name and handed it over: "This is my promise." If you are not satisfied with me in the future, you can always use this IOU to take back the company!"

"Lao Huo, you are too foreign, there is no need for this. Wu Mian knows that buying people's hearts is a thorough truth, and he refuses to accept anything. But Huo Zhentang insisted that he had to give it, and finally claimed that if he didn't accept the transaction, it would fail, and Pang Xun was also on the side to help persuade him, so he reluctantly accepted it.

The three of them happily toasted and drank it all, and even Huo Zhentang drank all the wine and celebrated together that this win-win solution had been reached.

After eating and drinking, Pang Xun took the first step to say goodbye and went to the press conference. Wu Mian and Huo Zhentang went to a nearby bank and completed the transfer procedures of 5 million yuan.

At this time, the mobile phone rang, and it was Shen Yihui calling. She exclaimed excitedly, "Elder Wu...... No, Director Wu, the injured man interviewed by Zhuzhou Satellite TV, I know who he is, he is ...... It's ......"

"Don't rush, speak slowly. Who is it?"

The little beauty took a few breaths and said a name that moved Wu Mian.