Chapter 270 - Business Competitors In The Intersection Street (1)

Within the vicinity of the intersection street, there stood a newly painted maroon building. It was just a walking distance away from the establishment that Sofia had bought for her to start her Chronos company. It was the only building that looked bright in the area.

The building is owned by a mysterious entrepreneur named Mr. Jonathan Soo. And the man was known to sell appliances and electronics that were produced directly from his overseas company called Soo Electronics International. 

Noontime...

Five men were eating their lunch in his cozy office in the building. Jonathan was seated in the middle while the four men were on each side. These men were al in their middle thirties and were wearing business suits.

While eating, the men were also talking about export and import sales and profits. They discussed some risks and other schedule of export deliveries.

Out of a sudden, one of the men opened his phone. There was a notification that displayed on his screen.  His face suddenly turned pale as if something in his phone had greatly affected him.

"Mr. Soo, check the news. This is the location that we have always wanted to purchase, right? It's the establishment just a few meters away from here. How come it becomes the venue of a wedding? I thought you have managed to scare the owner of that establishment?" the man asked. He then showed his mobile screen to Jonathan.

The five men quickly left their plates and moved to look at the news. After they finish reading, the three other men consequently expressed their different opinions.

"Someone must have purchased the property before we could acquire it?"

"Wait, who's family is hosting the wedding? The district mayor and the Lee family?!"

"Who is the owner of the venue? Call your private investigator and check the profile of the new owner secretly."

Jonathan's jaw tightened. He was completely certain that he had scared the previous owner of the establishment. He swiftly pulled out his phone and sent a message to his private investigator.

These men had been planning to expand their appliance and electronic business by acquiring the establishments near his building. They wanted to build a factory there. Jonathan even hired hoodlums to scare the business owner.

However, he did not expect that someone had already reaped the fruits of his underhanded schemes before he could make his moves! 

"Mr. Soo, this new owner might be a tough competitor. The cost of the venue is published here. This is not just some businessman who wants to earn profit. This new owner could be an expert in managing cash flow! Look at that amount!"

Ten minutes passed and Jonathan was still quiet in his seat. None of his companions could tell what he was thinking as his face did not display any emotions at all. 

"A wedding venue with this cost is almost unbelievable! Let's check the connection of this competitor later."

"Maybe a close friend of the mayor? Why else would the families be willing to accept an overcharge rate in their wedding venue?! Right?"

The other four men resumed eating but they were still guessing. When their lunch food was almost consumed, an employee entered the office.

"Mr. Soo, there is a parcel delivered under your name," the employee spoke and gave the white plastic to Jonathan. He then eventually left after.

"What is that? Ohh... from the private investigator. That's quick!" the first man to notice the news quickly helped Jonathan to open the parcel. "What are these? Five envelopes with students' information? Is this parcel mixed up? Could it be that the private investigator sent us a wrong file?"

The other also looked at the content of the parcel.

"Why did the investigator send these to us?" the other man stated. He was holding the file of Sofia and Claire. He just took a glance and did not even bothered reading their names.

"These files feel like a group of students is applying for on-the-job training. Ohh... wait, wait, wait," another man spoke and he stopped at the envelope that contained the profile with a familiar last name. "Clark Rosen Zhang... Check this!  Is the elite Zhang family... is he our new competitor?"

Everyone felt a little bit conflicted. As far as they knew, the Zhang family is well-respected in the district. They could never pull a scheme against such a solid family background!

"The Zhang family, I will give senior Zhang a call and see if he knows this boy. I don't know if he has a son or not. I wonder why the private investigator did not include the family profile of these teens," Jonathan finally spoke. It would have been easier for him to identify the new owners if the files contained family background. Weirdly, there were no family information in all the files that they received.

Jonathan started scrolling his contacts...

"Mr. Soo, there's another familiar last name in the other envelope! I'm suspecting that these two families are forming a business alliance?" the other man stated. In his hand was the profile of Stephen.

"Which family is that?" Jonathan questioned.

"The name in here is Stephen Lewis Ching. Maybe the Ching and the Zhang families are in some sort of alliance and want to expand their business in this district too?"

"We'll see," Jonathan chuckled. "If they are really joining forces then, the cost of the venue is indeed something that is within their capability. However, we need that location. So, we will just negotiate to them."

After the call got connected, Jonathan instantly greeted the other person. "Senior Zhang, it's me... Jonathan Soo from the electronics store. How are you?"

"Ohh... I'm surprised by this phone call, Mr. Soo. Hehe, all is great, thank you. Do you have some important matter to discuss with me?" the friendly voice of Clark's father echoed inside the office.

"I just called to ask if you know in your family a boy named..." Jonathan paused and gestured to his companion to give him the file of Clark. "...ehhh, a boy named Clark Rosen Zhang?"

"Ohh... that's my youngest son! What about him, Mr. Soo?" Senior Zhang turned serious after hearing the name of his son.

"Ahhh... your second son. I'm just curious... hehe... Senior Zhang, be honest with me... are you starting a business in intersection street? Coz I am hearing news about the upcoming wedding of the son from the Lee family," Jonathan stated.

"Nah... Mr. So, I just came back from overseas vacation with my wife. I think that the intersection place is too dangerous to start a business. That area is full of gang fights and fraternity brawls. I won't take the risk," Senior Zhang easily responded. "But, why did you mention my second son? Did he get in trouble at the intersection street while I'm on vacation?"

"Nothing of such. There may be a mistake in our information. Alright, I won't disturb you anymore. Goodbye, senior Zhang!" Jonathan quickly ended their conversation before the man could ask him further.

"Senior Zhang is a cautious businessman. There is no way for him to pick and invest in the intersection street. And it seems like he was not yet aware of the news?" one of his companions commented.

"That's what I also think. I'll contact the old man Mr.. Ching and ask about his son," Jonathan stated and went to search the man's contact details.