"How do you want to divide it, then?"
Qian Wendao shrugged. "We can't openly say that the Education Department isn't allowed too large a share because you and Xiao Zhigang don't get along, can we?"
"Exactly. That would make you look petty, too. It wouldn't help your future prospects."
"Xiao Qin, take the long view. You're going to achieve great things. If people looked down on you because you mishandled this business with Xiao Zhigang, it really wouldn't be worth it."
Seeing both Li Tianming and Qian Wendao trying to persuade him, Qin Siyang knew they had his best interests at heart.
Still, he said with complete seriousness, "Whatever we consider about the future, this business with Xiao Zhigang is something I absolutely won't let slide."
"I could let him off, but would he let me off? Do you think he'd appreciate it if I didn't hold this against him?"
Li Tianming and Qian Wendao exchanged a glance. Qin Siyang had a point.
Li Tianming added, "Xiao Zhigang is a petty villain through and through. He'd hurt you even if you never offended him, let alone after you angered him in public. He might already be thinking about killing you."
"Exactly. I can't hand him something as precious as Crimson Crystals so he can use them to hire someone to kill me, can I?"
"Nobody would be stupid enough to sell bullets that would end up being fired at them."
"What's your plan? Cut out the Education Department?"
Qin Siyang thought for a moment, then said, "The Education Department needs some justification for taking a share of the Crimson Crystals, right?"
"Of course. It takes Crimson Crystals to distribute to the research institutes under it, then keeps a portion for itself. Between the sheer number of research institutes and Xiao