Chapter 243: By Any Means Necessary
Chapter 243: By Any Means Necessary
Wansheng Tower, Huhai.
The 58-story building standing in Puxi wasn’t particularly striking among the surrounding modern structures.
But with its prime location and unique architecture, it became the most distinct symbol of the Wansheng Group in Huhai from the day it was completed. It was even incorporated into the Wansheng Group’s logo.
Under a clear sky and warm spring sun, the building shone brightly.
On the 58th floor, in the CEO’s office, Cao Wenbo stood silently by the floor-to-ceiling window, staring absently across the Huangpu River.
The glass before him measured 3.8 meters in height and stretched 15 meters long. Crafted with advanced technology, it was bulletproof even against small-caliber firearms, custom-made at a staggering cost of millions.
The CEO of Wansheng Group usually loved standing here, hand resting on his secretary’s waist, admiring the view of Pudong.
He felt as though he’d conquered the city beneath him.
But today, Cao Wenbo wasn’t in the mood.
His brooding gaze swept past the Pearl Tower and the World Financial Center, lingering briefly on the latter before finally settling on the three buildings standing tall by the riverbank.
Huhai One!
Just days ago, someone who annoyed him immensely had bought a ¥250 million penthouse there.
A nobody from Yuncheng!
Cao Wenbo’s expression grew dark and dangerous.
Those who knew him understood: when his eyes turned like that—it meant someone was about to suffer.
Tap tap.
A soft knock sounded on the office door.
Cao Wenbo tore his gaze away and returned to his desk. “Come in,” he said in a low voice.
“Mr. Cao.”
A female secretary, wearing black stockings, her figure pronounced, pushed the door open and spoke sweetly. “Chairman Liang of Minghui is here to see you.”
Cao Wenbo nodded expressionlessly. “Let him in.”
He then stared at the ceramic jar placed on his desk, lost in thought.
The jar resembled the reddish-brown shade of Yixing clay, its shape oddly irregular, like it had been molded by a child. Sealed tightly with a piece of rosewood at the neck, it possessed a primitive charm.
After a long moment, Cao Wenbo snapped back to reality. He noticed the middle-aged man standing humbly before the desk.
Liang Zhiqiang!
Seeing Cao Wenbo’s gaze settle on him, Liang Zhiqiang instantly plastered on an ingratiating smile. “Young Master Cao.”
Cao Wenbo gestured idly. “Sit.”
Liang Zhiqiang hastily perched on the edge of the nearby sofa.
Though he was the formidable, autocratic Chairman of Brightglow Biotechnology in Jiangnan within his own company, before Cao Wenbo, he only dared to perch cautiously on the edge of the cushion.
Ignoring Liang Zhiqiang for the moment, Cao Wenbo opened a desk drawer and meticulously prepared a Havana cigar. He lit it expertly.
He took a slow drag, exhaled a plume of smoke, and asked coldly, “What’s the progress on the Hundred-Fruit Wine?”
Liang Zhiqiang sat as if on pins and needles, a sheen of sweat forming on his forehead. He stammered nervously, “We… we’re still conducting experimental comparisons. B-but… without the original formula, replicating it is incredibly difficult…”
Cao Wenbo narrowed his eyes. His gaze sharpened like needles.
Ever since he obtained a sample of the Hundred-Fruit Wine and personally experienced its effects, he immediately recognized its immense potential value.
Compared to the 99.99% of health products on the market that were mostly scams, the Hundred-Fruit Wine was genuinely remarkable!
Laboratory tests confirmed it. Cao Wenbo believed that if Wansheng Group could acquire the formula and produce it commercially, restoring the group to its peak billion-dollar valuation would be just around the corner.
His promotion from CEO to Chairman wouldn’t be a pipe dream anymore!
With so many family members watching his every move, his status as the eldest son alone wouldn’t secure his position. He needed results—impeccable results—to silence his critics within the family.
Yet, Wansheng Group’s performance in recent years had been dismal, its dominance in the industry increasingly shaky.
For Cao Wenbo, the Hundred-Fruit Wine was nothing short of a lifeline.
That’s why he had ordered Liang Zhiqiang to spare no expense in analyzing the wine, investing heavily to crack its formula.
But despite Brightglow Biotechnology boasting world-class facilities and a large research team, they remained unable to replicate the wine.
Facing this dead end, Cao Wenbo had reluctantly taken Liang Zhiqiang’s advice: target the wine’s owner instead.
He devised schemes and sought powerful allies.
Then, someone crashed the party. It made Cao Wenbo’s elaborate plan look ridiculous!
The fact that his fury hadn’t erupted at Liang Zhiqiang yet already demonstrated considerable restraint. If only this man wasn’t so incompetent, none of this trouble would have arisen!
He had even managed to provoke the He Family from Beijing!
The more Cao Wenbo thought, the angrier he grew. He nearly crushed his cigar out on Liang Zhiqiang’s face.
“You have one more month,” he said in a dangerously low voice. “Use any means. Either crack the formula, or bring me the formula itself. If you fail, you’re out.”
“But before you crawl out of this company…” Cao Wenbo’s eyes narrowed again, predatory as a snake eyeing its prey. “You will pay back double every penny you’ve skimmed off Brightglow over the years. Not a cent less.”
Liang Zhiqiang shuddered violently. Cold sweat poured down his back.
Though nominally Chairman of Brightglow, he knew most of its shares were held by Wansheng Group. Cao Wenbo held his fate in his hands—life or death, without a shred of resistance possible.
Over the years, he had indeed funneled a great deal of money. Paying it back double? Selling everything he owned wouldn’t cover it!
But how could he possibly replicate the formula?!
The ingredients of the Hundred-Fruit Wine had been exhaustively analyzed by modern instruments. Every component was precisely charted down to multiple decimal places.
Nothing unusual was found.
Yet, no matter how the lab combined these ingredients, the result was never the true wine.
Liang Zhiqiang had tried manipulating the owner himself—Gao Jing—finding him stubbornly resistant to both threats and inducements.
Dreading the ruinous outcome of being publicly expelled from the company, Liang Zhiqiang gritted his teeth. “Y-Yes, Young Master Cao! I will find a way to get the formula! But… what about the He family from Beijing?”
He’d heard about the auction fiasco yesterday. A formidable opponent had arrived in Huhai—when gods fight, mere mortals are trampled!
“Hmph!” Cao Wenbo took another resentful pull of his cigar, fury palpable in the smoke he blew out. “I’ll handle the He Family. Greasy He Qing doesn’t speak for the whole clan. But my patience with you? It has limits.”
“I understand.”
Liang Zhiqiang stood up, a dangerous glint hardening in his eyes, a sense of desperation fueling him. “Young Master Cao, I’ll talk to him again.”
He spat the last words with venomous hatred, as though Gao Jing had stolen his wife or murdered his father.