Hidden Moth-Chapter 379 - 214: Momentary Lapse in Judgment

Among the people present, two stewards have Tier Five Cultivation. In addition to Lin Qingshuang and Qian Guran, there are four Tier Four Sorcerers, making this lineup quite formidable.

The ones remaining here to handle the subsequent affairs of the Huiming Shi Family are mostly elite talents drawn from various Magic Sects by the Ancestral Hall, the core disciples most worthy of trust, because the interests involved in this matter are really too many and too complex.

Huang Si, Meng Ya, and others have left, and two Tier Four Sorcerers have also been sent out. Including Qian Guran, only six people remain in the room.

Zou Tianjin: "Senior Brother Lin, feel free to speak your mind."

Lin Qingshuang abruptly asked, "Do you know Lu Shutang?"

Zou Tianjin was slightly taken aback, then seemed to realize something, exhaling deeply as he said, "That’s my eldest sister’s child."

Lin Qingshuang unexpectedly asked another unnecessary question, "Are you his biological uncle?"

Zou Tianjin looked awkward, "You want to ask about the matter of the thirty percent shares, right? I did seek out Shi Haotu, wishing for my nephew to invest in Huishiming Brand and hold thirty percent of the shares, but the deal didn’t work out..."

"What? There’s something of yours involved too!" Gong Xiaodong reacted with great surprise and instinctively moved to stand beside Lin Qingshuang, facing Zou Tianjin.

The other two Tier Four Sorcerers present had a similar reaction, except for Qian Guran, who remained calm and composed, seemingly unsurprised.

Zou Tianjin, who was already red-faced, blushed even more at this point, bowing his head and saying, "Things that didn’t even get agreed upon, what’s there to say? How could I have expected that someone would unseal Shi Yun Road, wanting that thirty percent share as payment.

While interrogating Shi Yun Road earlier, I felt something was amiss. Even if Senior Brother Lin hadn’t asked, I would have found an opportunity to talk about it on my own."

Lin Qingshuang: "You can’t avoid clarifying things now."

Steward Zou from the Micro Realm Sect introduced the background——

Zou Tianjin’s parents were just ordinary workers, and there were five children in the family, with him being the youngest. He had two older sisters and two older brothers, and life was relatively tough during his childhood.

His mother retired relatively early, allowing his eldest sister to replace her in the factory to work. Back then, there was still the term "job substitution," which was a system to solve youth employment.

His eldest sister was very capable, crucially marrying a workshop director. Later, Zou Tianjin’s brother-in-law became the deputy factory director and deputy general manager after the restructuring. The eldest sister also got promoted, working in the office, and their life improved significantly.

Zou Tianjin was over ten years younger than his eldest sister, and she and her husband took good care of him since childhood. Even his university living expenses were provided by his eldest sister and brother-in-law.

It was during his university years that Zou Tianjin met the master who introduced him to the Magic Sect, which is another story.

His eldest sister and her husband had only one son, Lu Shutang. Lu Shutang performed well academically since childhood, being the pride of his parents. He was admitted to Qi Yuan University, majoring in Computer Science and Technology, and obtained his master’s degree two years ago.

At this point, Lin Qingshuang and Qian Guran exchanged glances, seemingly somewhat surprised. Because according to this school, major, and graduation time, Lu Shutang would be a cohort mate of He Kao, and possibly even classmates!

However, the two did not make a sound, not wishing to stir up additional issues, merely listening as Zou Tianjin continued his story.

After graduating, Lu Shutang found two jobs, neither of which satisfied him, so he returned home, saying he wanted to start a business. But his parents were not at ease, nor did they have the capital to let him mess around.

Zou Tianjin did have capital but didn’t internally support his nephew to do so. Having just graduated for less than two years, with no clear understanding of anything, and without any reliable projects, talking about starting a business wasn’t sensible.

His eldest sister and brother-in-law had already retired with pensions and savings, and their life was relatively affluent but not wealthy. They fester at home daily, worrying about Lu Shutang.

Some time ago, Zou Tianjin happened to hear that Shi Haotu was setting up a new company called Huishiming Brand, planning to concentrate quality resources to develop online business, which could be linked to his nephew’s major.

He indirectly learned about the situation and was optimistic about the project’s prospects, confident that if it was well-executed, it would have the potential for future listing. So he found Shi Haotu and discussed the intent of equity investment.

Zou Tianjin wasn’t investing himself but having Lu Shutang hold shares. It wasn’t about holding the shares on behalf, but letting his nephew be a real shareholder.

At that time, Huishiming Brand was in the preparation stage, planning an initial registered capital of twenty million, with the Huishi Group mainly providing industrial equity.

Zou Tianjin stated that his nephew would bring six million in cash for a thirty percent stake and, if possible, would also prefer a board seat.

Lu Shutang definitely didn’t have the six million, but his biological uncle could lend it to him, and he needn’t worry about repaying it until the company went public.

In this way, Lu Shutang would become one of the initial founders of the company, and if it eventually went public, he’d hold a director’s position in a listed company, putting his parents’ minds at ease.

So did Shi Haotu and his wife agree? They both agreed and didn’t agree.

Shi Haotu was very grateful for Steward Zou’s appreciation and support but resolutely refused to accept the six million. He clearly stated that having Steward Zou hold shares was an honor for Huishiming Brand, and there was no reason to accept the money, not a single penny!

Considering that Huishiming Brand had to introduce other cooperation shareholders, Shi Haotu’s room for operation wasn’t that large. Thirty percent was a bit difficult, but he could gift Lu Shutang ten percent of the shares. 𝑓𝑟ℯ𝘦𝓌𝘦𝘣𝑛𝑜𝓋𝑒𝓁.𝑐ℴ𝓂

Yes, gifting ten percent of the shares freely! In addition, he also promised Lu Shutang a board seat. Hearing Shi Haotu’s words, Zou Tianjin realized his decision was rather reckless.

First, registered capital and equity valuation are two different things. Having six million to acquire thirty percent of the shares wouldn’t be enough. Even if it was, Shi Haotu neither wanted nor dared to actually take the six million.

Perhaps from Shi Haotu’s perspective, gifting a ten percent dry share was his maximum space for maneuver in the project. Even if Lu Shutang was an inexperienced slacker, hiring him as a director and high-level executive wouldn’t be a loss, with Steward Zou backing him up.

Zou Tianjin merely wanted to find a decent path for his nephew but found it inappropriate to proceed given the situation, so he abandoned the idea. It was a spur-of-the-moment thought that wasn’t well-considered, so he let it go.

At this point in the conversation, Gong Xiaodong couldn’t help but ask, "Old Zou, what were you thinking, just mulling over trifling matters like this? Moreover, if you wanted to arrange something for your blood nephew, there are plenty of other options, why turn to Shi Haotu?"

Zou Tianjin’s role here was to represent the Micro Realm Sect, overseeing Shi Haotu, Shi Yun Road, and other disciples of the Shi Family, so how could he enter into a business partnership with them? This was clearly inappropriate!

Even if he wanted to invest in shares, he could have chosen those assets stripped and handed over by the Magic Sect, assets that needed someone to take over and manage. There was no need to involve himself in Shi Haotu’s business.

Zou Tianjin sighed, "Indeed inappropriate, which is why I gave it up as soon as I realized! It was a folly to get carried away, merely noticing the field seemed to align professionally, and the business wasn’t related to the Magic Sect or Technique..."

Lu Shutang wasn’t a Sorcerer, not even a Guest of Fate. Zou Tianjin knew his nephew wasn’t suited for practicing Techniques, so he didn’t tell him anything about the Magic Sect.

The businesses Zou Tianjin usually interacted with mostly involved the Magic Sect and Techniques, unsuitable for involving Lu Shutang. It happened that Shi Haotu was establishing Huishiming Brand, which stirred his thoughts.

It’s been more than three months since the matter, almost forgotten by Zou Tianjin if no one mentioned it again.

After listening, Gong Xiaodong asked Lin Qingshuang again, "Senior Sister, how did you know about this, could it be Shi Haotu who told you?"

Lin Qingshuang: "I haven’t been to Shi Haotu, nor had time to see him. But today, after capturing Shengtian Gang, I found this in Shi Yun Road’s residence..."

Saying this, she extended a hand to Qian Guran.

Old Qian, carrying a laptop bag, hurriedly took out a document from the bag and handed it over.

**