Expand the scale?

Zhang Dazhu looked at the middle-aged man in front of him who was holding money and insisting on stuffing it into his hand, his face full of embarrassment.

"Uncle Hong, what are you doing? Get up, get up quickly."

Uncle Hong cried with snot and tears: "Your Fuxing Company, please hurry up and come to our street to collect protection fees. Last night, those hooligans smashed my store again, and beat your aunt's head until it was broken. We can't live like this anymore."

Zhang Dazhu sighed.

"Uncle Hong, wait a bit. The company's territory is set by President Han, and we can't cross the line. When the company expands, you will definitely be the first, and then no one will dare to cause trouble."

Uncle Hong kept pestering him, but Zhang Dazhu could only firmly refuse. Seeing that there was no way, Uncle Hong could only wipe his tears and leave.

Li Qing next to him sighed: "You say our company is so strong, why don't we just expand our territory? Those little hooligans around here don't even have a gang. We've trained for so long, just the two of us can beat a group of them. Wouldn't it be better to occupy more territory and collect more protection fees?"

Zhang Dazhu said: "I don't understand anything, I just know that this is the rule set by President Han. Just follow President Han's rules, why think so much?"

Li Qing said angrily: "With your brain, you wouldn't even know when you're sold."

The patrol continued until evening, and today's shift was about to end. The night shift would be done by others.

"Finally, it's almost time to get off work."

Before he could finish sighing, someone nearby suddenly shouted: "Catch the thief, catch the thief!"

Zhang Dazhu looked up and saw a guy with a sharp mouth and monkey cheeks running out quickly. Behind him, a merchant was shouting anxiously.

Zhang Dazhu and Li Qing both got up and chased after him.

How could this thief, who ran long distances every day, ate well, and was well-nourished, be a match for Zhang Dazhu? He was caught up by Zhang Dazhu not far after rushing out of the street and kicked to the ground.

"You dare to come to Fuxing Company's territory to steal things, you don't want to live! Go, come with me to the Security Department!"

Zhang Dazhu dragged him back without question.

"Brother, brother! Let's talk!"

The thief gasped and lowered his voice: "Let me go, brother! I'll give you money!"

If the thief was caught and taken to the Security Department, his hand would be broken.

Zhang Dazhu ignored him completely, and the thief whispered again: "There's no one here now, no one is watching! I'll give each of you 200 yuan! You let me go, just say you didn't catch me, no one will know!"

Hmm?

A little hesitation appeared on Li Qing's face.

He looked around. This was a small alley, and indeed there was no one.

Working as a security guard for Fuxing Company, the salary was 2000 yuan a month. This 200 yuan was equivalent to three days' wages...

The most important thing was that it would be done without anyone knowing...

"Dazhu, Dazhu! Slow down!"

Li Qing stopped Dazhu and whispered: "200 each! How much money do we earn in a month!"

Zhang Dazhu stopped and looked at Li Qing with disbelief.

"You... you dare not listen to President Han? You want to let this thief go?"

The thief shouted again: "300 each, 300! I only have 600 yuan in total, I'll give it all to you!"

"We'll secretly let him go, no one will know..."

"Shut up!"

Zhang Dazhu looked at Li Qing with disappointment: "I thought you were my friend, but I didn't expect you to be this kind of person! Don't forget who gave you the life you have now!"

"You stubborn fool!"

"Stop talking, Li Qing. I'll pretend I didn't hear what you said today, and I won't report you. You take care of yourself."

Zhang Dazhu dragged the thief back, making Li Qing curse silently behind him.

None of the three noticed that on both sides of the alley, a camera was facing this way, recording everything.

At this moment, in the Fuxing Base conference room, all the core members were present, communicating the company's operating status during this period.

"Overall, with the income from protection fees, the company has currently reached a balance of payments. The income from shops such as clothing stores and restaurants is also steadily increasing. By next month, the company will achieve profitability for the first time."

Han Yang nodded with satisfaction.

He didn't expect the company to make money at all. All he wanted was a safety guarantee and a cover.

Even if he had to lose money, he would maintain the company's existence.

But if the company itself could generate revenue and even make a profit, that would of course be better.

"It seems that even in the slum area, consumption demand is not low. It's just that there was no order before, and consumption demand was suppressed.

Everyone has done very well. Well, we must continue to maintain the principle of honest operation and build the brand of Fuxing Company. We must also strengthen supervision of merchants in the surrounding streets, and resolutely clear out merchants who sell inferior goods as good ones, or cheat and deceive."

"Yes."

Zhao Fu, who was in charge of finance, hesitated for a moment, but still said: "President Han, our company is currently strong and well-equipped. Should we expand again, occupy more territory, and expand the company's scale?"

Li Hu also said: "Recently, many people from the neighboring streets have come to ask me, begging us to collect protection fees."

"Everyone wants a stable environment."

"Yes, someone came looking for me too."

Aunt Wang sighed, "They're all old neighbors from the street, sigh."

The situation could be described as excellent, with all the right conditions – timing, location, and people – a truly good opportunity for expansion.

Han Yang smiled and said, "I understand everyone's desire for the company to grow. However, it's not time to expand yet. When the time is right, I will arrange it. For now, everyone must remember that our territory is only these three streets. Just manage yourselves. Anyone who dares to cross the line will be immediately fired."

By the end, Han Yang's tone was stern. The core members of the company were all silent with fear.

The meeting ended, and people dispersed, but Shen the Butcher stayed behind.

"Xiao Yang, I still don't understand why you won't agree to expand? If the territory is bigger, the business will be bigger, and there will be more people, isn't that good?"

Shen the Butcher was full of doubts.

He didn't need to explain to others, but he had to explain to Shen the Butcher.

Han Yang sighed.

"Under the existing order, promoting another completely new order and gaining the unanimous support of the people... Where does that leave the Earth Government? Do you think you're not dying fast enough?"

Shen the Butcher was startled, and suddenly understood clearly. Cold sweat instantly broke out on his back.

"This, this..."

Shen the Butcher wiped away a cold sweat, no longer looking calm and composed at all. "Then, Xiao Yang, you're still in these three street blocks..."

"It's fine for now. Maintaining order around the company to protect the company's interests is a reason that makes sense anywhere. But if we blindly expand our territory and blindly promote the current order, that's just asking for death.

So, it's not that I don't want to expand, but that I can't."

Han Yang sighed, "However, when the company's scale expands in the future, we can expand appropriately. But it can only be kept around the company."

Shen the Butcher looked at Han Yang with full admiration. This time, he was completely convinced.