Guo Xuyang was full of praise for Cheng Xiuping’s design, noting that every detail had been considered.
“President Cheng, you’ve gone to great lengths,” Guo Xuyang said.
“This is our main base. It has to be done right. We’re storing hundreds of billions worth of goods here, so not a single detail can be overlooked,” Cheng Xiuping replied with a smile.
“Indeed. From now on, staff will work on the first underground level and enter and exit through the west villa. Arrange two dedicated lounge rooms for them on the first underground level. Station security personnel in the west villa year-round. Who is currently in the east villa?” Guo Xuyang asked after making his arrangements.
“President Guo, that’s me,” a young woman said from beside him.
Guo Xuyang, who had been engrossed in inspecting the renovated warehouse, hadn't noticed the young woman appear. This was Xia Li, whom he had met before.
“Xia Li? It’s you,” Guo Xuyang said, slightly surprised. He glanced at Cheng Xiuping, wondering if the arrangement was deliberate or coincidental, though the former seemed more likely.
“Yes. I am now responsible for the monitoring and maintenance of the entire villa.”
“Good, excellent. Please designate the east villa separately. I will have a use for it when I return.”
“Certainly, President Guo. I will modify the elevators and access control systems accordingly.”
“Understood. Who currently has modification privileges?”
Xia Li looked at Cheng Xiuping and replied, “Currently, only I have that authority.”
“You carry a heavy responsibility. Our treasures will be entrusted to your care from now on.”
“Please rest assured, President Guo. Serving you is my duty. Thank you for your trust.”
“Keep up the good work. I believe in you,” Guo Xuyang said as he continued to walk forward.
The group exited the west villa’s basement through an underground passage. They entered a room on the first floor where an entire wall was covered with surveillance monitors – the monitoring room. Two security guards were on duty.
“Good afternoon, President Cheng, esteemed leaders,” one of the guards said, standing up to greet them. The other guard remained focused on the monitors.
“Thank you for your hard work, gentlemen. Please continue with your duties. We’re just looking around,” Cheng Xiuping said.
“President Cheng, how many cameras are installed here, and are they connected to the local network?” Guo Xuyang asked.
“A total of 318 surveillance cameras are installed across both villas. Fifty-eight of them are hidden cameras, and the remaining 260 are distributed around the perimeter of both villas, in the corners of each room, and in the corridors. The security guards here monitor only the external cameras. Access to the monitoring of the premium areas and the interior of the villas is not granted here; it’s located upstairs in the east villa. Only Xia Li has the authority to configure it. I believe she will hand over the control to you upon your return,” Cheng Xiuping explained.
Guo Xuyang understood that Cheng Xiuping had arranged for Xia Li to have full responsibility to avoid any appearance of impropriety. He also suspected Cheng Xiuping had other motives, which he chose not to address directly.
“Thank you for your hard work, President Cheng. We’re having a team-building event tonight, and I’m hosting. Where is Xiao Yun?” Guo Xuyang asked.
“Yangzi. I’m here,” a voice responded.
“Contact the Jun Yue Lai Hotel and make arrangements in advance. Did Yangyang mention it to you earlier? Contact Brother Hui and invite all the staff from the 4S dealership to join us.”
“Alright, I’ll arrange it immediately,” Xiao Yun said, turning to make the call.
“Xia Li, you’re invited to the dinner tonight. Ride with President Cheng later.”
As they were speaking, the convoy arrived outside. There were twenty-six container trucks in total. Except for a few with windows, which were carefully unloaded by forklift, the raw stones without windows were pushed directly into the rooms by loaders.
Cheng Xiuping urgently mobilized a team of fifty people to cross-reference the models of each raw stone. With so many people, the task was completed in less than two hours. A total of 889 pieces were accounted for, filling less than half a room.
At that time, due to the incident where Jie Linna was kidnapped, Guo Xuyang had requested Wu Youzhi, Pi Xiaoqian, and Xiao Yun to return to China urgently before the public auction ended. Otherwise, they could have purchased more. Since Jie Linna had been with Guo Xuyang and his group, it would have been very convenient for the military to investigate. They could have simply reviewed the surveillance footage to ascertain the situation. To be safe, Guo Xuyang had instructed Wu Youzhi and the others to return to China immediately.
It turned out Guo Xuyang had made the right decision. Later, following the assassination attempt on Wu Minlai, the military interrogated everyone associated with Jie Linna, including the Myanmar military officer who had been speaking with her. However, they found nothing. The Chinese individuals who were close to Jie Linna had also returned to China.
The organizers of the public auction in Myanmar had initially intended to seize the raw stones from the public auction, but considering the international implications, they proceeded with normal shipments. This was because they lacked definitive evidence to prove that these Chinese individuals were connected to Jie Linna.
“We intended to buy more raw stones this time, but a minor issue arose. However, the quality of these stones is quite good. We’ll see what we get when they’re cut tomorrow,” Guo Xuyang said.
“This is already a significant amount, especially considering the materials from the artificial lake villa as well,” Cheng Xiuping replied.
“We need to keep these accounts separate. This is for Shi Quan Shi Mei Myanmar Jade Specialty Co., Ltd., and we must ensure all financial inflows are accurately recorded. This is a company in which ten of us have invested. The materials from the artificial lake villa are for the four of us, excluding Xiao Xi and Fatty and the others. Even among brothers, clear accounts are necessary, and besides, the materials here are far superior to those there,” Guo Xuyang explained.
“Brother, aren’t these all supplied to the jade stores in Kyoto and Shanghai? There’s no need to be so meticulous,” Pi Xiaoqian said.
“I don’t mind, I’m a major shareholder wherever I am. But it wouldn’t be fair to President Cheng, President Wu, and Xiao Yun. I can’t let the brothers who work with me suffer any disadvantage.”
“Aren’t they also shareholders of our company?”
“You’re right. However, President Wu has his own jade stores, and you also have your own jade stores. If everything goes through here, it wouldn’t be fair to President Wu. The price of jade from that place can be set high or low, but the jade from here must strictly adhere to market prices. Also, the quality of the jade here is much higher than that from the other place,” Guo Xuyang stated.
“Alright. We’ll do as you say.”
“President Cheng, do you have professional financial personnel on your side?”
“Xia Li majored in accounting in college. She can handle it.”
“That’s perfect. It saves us from finding someone else. Xia Li, what is your current salary?”
“After President Cheng assigned me here, my salary has been thirty thousand per month,” Xia Li replied.
“From now on, your salary will be one hundred thousand per month, plus year-end bonuses. But you must watch these stones carefully; if even one goes missing, your annual salary won’t be enough to cover it,” Guo Xuyang said.
“Also, every transaction must be recorded clearly so that we shareholders can audit the accounts at any time.”
“No problem, President Guo. I will keep everything meticulously recorded,” Xia Li responded with evident joy. One hundred thousand a month meant 1.2 million a year, something she couldn't even have dreamed of before. It was no wonder she was so happy.