Once Ming Rusheng came out of the hall, the assistant with him didn't look so happy. He was old as he was with Ming Yusheng for long and understood the business world better.
"Young master, I think there is something that President Lu took this land acquisition so lightly."
"If he had taken it lightly, he wouldn't have offered such a huge amount for the land," said Ming Rusheng.
The old assistant was not convinced with it and he was still thinking that there was something wrong.
Xiao Min went to the office and informed his boss they had lost the land. Standing in front of Lu Qiang who was busy working, Xiao Min couldn't decide whatever to be happy or sad about losing the land.
"Boss, the Ming industries got the hold of the land."
"Hmm! You worked hard, Xiao Min. Now go back home. Tomorrow we are going to Europe on a business trip."
"Business trip? But there was nothing planned like this in the week's schedule. I mean, did I miss something, boss?" Xiao Min questioned.
"You didn't. It was planned at the last moment as I talked to Mr. Joseph and I informed him I would be there as soon as possible."
Xiao Min was still so silent, so Lu Qiang asked, "What happened now?"
"Boss but if you plan the things and I didn't know about it, it makes me feel like I am not a good assistant." Xiao Min was disappointed in himself.
"I know but you can improve."
When Xiao Min expected to hear good words from his boss, his boss broke his heart by agreeing with him. 'Am I really not good? Do I need to work more to be the best assistant?' he questioned himself.
Seeing the sad face of his assistant, Lu Qiang asked, "What? Do you want me to console you on not being a good assistant?"
It broke his heart again. "N-No boss."
"Then go back home and pack your bags. We will be there for a week."
"Okay boss." Saying Xiao Min left and Lu Qiang smiled once Xiao Min left the office.
The day Ming Rusheng was celebrating his second victory over Lu Qiang, it didn't last long.
Ming Yusheng who was out of the city came to his son's office. "I heard about the land acquisition deal. Is it the truth that we won?"
"Yes father," Ming Rusheng replied proudly.
"How much did you offer them?"
"Ming Rusheng handed over the file to his father and replied, "Enough for us to win the land."
"Have you gone through all the details about it?" Ming Yusheng asked going through the file.
"Hmm! That land would be better to build the factory as it is benefitting in more ways for us."
Ming Yusheng closed the file and kept in the table unhappily. Thud!
"I know but you have offered more than required for it. That land is a waste piece of land that everyone wanted to buy at a cheaper price to put you in some use which can benefit them. You offered them double seventy-five percent more price than the actual one."
It stunned Ming Rusheng. "But how can that be?"
"It is the truth. Why didn't you inform me you were going to get the land? If not, then haven't you studied about the history of that land and what was there till now. Getting that land for a cheaper price and using it for some good thing would be a social cause to help the people around. Even if we won it, in the end, we lost as you used more than required money on it."
It stunned Ming Rusheng to realize how he missed noticing it and Ming Yusheng continued.
"You can use that land and build a factory and even though we have too much money and it won't affect Ming Industries that much, but the businessman who can't look through the things to its roots and waste money by giving away more than required, it's a huge loss and the person can't be a winner."
I am sorry father, I will be careful next time."
"You better be. Take it as your learning experience and don't repeat the mistakes."
"I will, father," Ming Rusheng assured him and his father, Ming Yusheng left his son's office. He didn't confront him much as he thought the person learns from their mistakes.
When his father left, Ming Rusheng opened his tablet and looked for one document. It was the one Lu Qiang concluded the cost to buy the land. "How come he offered this much? Was he not aware of the land?"
The price offered by Ming Rusheng was more than the one offered by Lu Qiang by a few thousand Yuans only.
Looking at the tablet, Ming Rusheng thought, 'If he offered this much that means he considered the land as an important asset but he didn't appear there and instead sent his assistant that means it was not important for him. What is he trying to do? Was I so engrossed in the first victory that I ignored to look into the facts? Something doesn't seem right. I should be careful next time."
----
The next day, Lu Qiang had to leave for a business trip and had to leave in the evening. Jiang Yuyan didn't go to university as Lu Qiang was leaving and she wanted to be with him.
"You should have taken an off. I would have seen you after your classes."
"There was nothing important that I would miss. I have finished studying this semester syllabus during last semester as it bore me after studying the current one."
"My wife sure has the best brain who can finish the whole syllabus even before her classes start." Lu Qiang commented as he continued packing his stuff.
"I know, now let me help you pack."
"My devoted wife." Lu Qiang gave her aside to let her do it.
"When would you be back?" she asked while keeping his clothes in a bag properly.
"In a week."
"Don't you think it's too long?"
"I know, how about you come with me?"
"I can't. I have assessments."
"Hmm! Don't worry the week will pass by soon."