Morax is dead, Liyue will fall into my hands.

We believe that as long as we are sincere, Mr. Zhongli will definitely be willing to join us in the future.

Zhongli calmly looked at Ningguang and said, "Please give me your guidance."

When Xiao heard Zhongli admit to Li Ye's statement, his previously excited heart was now filled with shock.

Who is this young man?

Lord Zhongli actually agreed to help him!?

Or is there some other inside story?

In any case, Lord Zhongli must have some deeper meaning behind doing this!

Ningguang had heard of Zhongli for a long time and knew that he was proficient in many things that others did not know.

But Ningguang sees it the same way she treats Li Ye: before she understands Zhongli's weaknesses, even the best chess piece cannot be used for her own purposes.

Therefore, Ningguang had no contact with Zhongli, and in a sense, this was their first meeting.

Ningguang was well-versed in etiquette and would not be impolite at this time: "Hengyi greets Mr. Zhongli. I have long heard of Mr. Zhongli's great name, but I have never had the opportunity to meet him. Today, I can say that I have fulfilled a wish."

Zhongli: "Boss Ji, you're too kind."

After Li Ye and the other two finished their pleasantries, he suggested, "This isn't the place to chat. Let's go upstairs and talk."

Master Yanxiao, I'm counting on you tonight.

If you have time to visit Liyue Harbor in the future, you can come and sit at Jiaxuan Tea House.

We may not have much else, but we'll provide plenty of tea and pastries.

Regardless of whether it was just polite talk or not, everyone loves to be flattered, and Master Yanxiao felt very honored after hearing it.

He readily agreed, saying, "I've heard passersby say that seats at Jiaxuan Teahouse are extremely hard to come by."

If I ever have time to go to Liyue Harbor, I must go and see it for myself.

After bidding farewell to Master Yanxiao, the three headed to the top floor of Wangshu Inn.

As Li Ye passed the second floor, he felt that someone was secretly watching him.

He turned his head and saw a green-clad boy with sharp, piercing eyes standing in the shadows.

The other person noticed Li Ye's gaze and immediately slipped away.

Are they customers or employees of Wangshu Inn?

Although he doesn't look very tall, based on Li Ye's many years of experience, this guy is a formidable character.

After the new bank opens, there will be no shortage of people causing trouble, both openly and secretly. We really need one or two tough characters like these to keep things in check.

Why don't we talk to him after we finish discussing business? Maybe we can recruit him?

With this thought in mind, Li Ye went up to the rooftop.

As Li Ye walked to the edge of the platform, he watched the elevator in the distance rise and fall with the twisting of the rope. He could not hear any noise and could take in the beautiful scenery around him from his high vantage point.

Looking around at the elegant layout, Li Ye couldn't help but exclaim, "Building this Wangshu Inn must have taken a lot of effort from Boss Ji, right?"

Ningguang walked to the table, reached for the teapot, and filled three teacups: "From Stonegate to Liyue Harbor, we always have to stop at Wangshu Inn to rest."

Those who frequently travel between these two places are mainly merchants. They are not short of money and are generous spenders. In fact, after years of business, they have not only not lost much, but have actually made a considerable profit.

Li Ye smiled and said, "Wangshu Inn has an excellent reputation. No matter how dangerous it is outside, you are completely safe once you enter the inn. It is also an invaluable haven for merchants."

It seems that Master Yanxiao doesn't know Boss Ji?

I'd also like to ask Boss Ji for help, see if we can transfer him to Liyue Harbor, so we can enjoy Master Yanxiao's signature dishes every day."

Ningguang shook her head and said, "I can't make that decision."

Although I funded the construction of Wangshu Inn, I have never interfered in its operation, and most of the people here don't even know me.

No matter which employee Mr. Li wants to poach from Wangshu Inn, he has to personally go and talk to them.

"Of course, if they're willing, I can help persuade Philgoldette to release them."

Upon hearing this, Li Ye's eyes lit up, and he said, "Any one? This was personally promised by Boss Ji?"

Ningguang nodded and promised, "Of course, even if it's Master Yanxiao, Mr. Zhongli can testify."

Li Ye had been waiting for Ningguang to say those words!

With Ningguang's guarantee, Li Ye was no longer in a hurry. He took out three copies of the contract he had prepared earlier and said, "In that case, let's talk about business first."

This is the initial draft of the contract I prepared when I arrived. It mainly concerns the amount of investment by Boss Ji, the shareholding weight, future dividends, management distribution, and so on.

If Boss Ji feels there's a problem, or that something is worth discussing, Mr. Zhongli is no stranger to us, so we can sit down and talk it over.

As a project with great potential, Li Ye offered Ningguang very generous terms.

Li Ye is short of money, but not extremely short of it; the key issue is actually talent.

The new bank project requires a large number of literate and highly skilled employees. If he were to recruit them one by one or train them personally, it would take forever.

Therefore, collaborating with Ningguang was a choice made out of necessity.

Ningguang took the contract. In Liyue, contracts are sacred. Even though she is one of the seven stars of Liyue, she must still abide by the contract once it is signed.

Therefore, Ningguang subconsciously behaves with extreme caution and solemnity when reading the contract.

The contract clearly shows Li Ye's sincerity, but there is one clause that makes her a little uncomfortable—no matter how the shareholding changes, Li Ye has "absolute decision-making power"!

Chapter Twenty-Seven: Two tigers cannot share one mountain, unless...

Listed companies typically make decisions through shareholder meetings, exercising their voting rights according to their shareholding ratio. The larger the shareholding, the more weight the decision carries.

In other words, whoever controls 51% of the company's shares achieves absolute control, while those with over 67% control become absolute decision-makers.

However, as the company continues to grow and strengthen, and after multiple rounds of financing from various parties, the shares held by the founders and management are often far below 51%, which means that they are very likely to lose decision-making power.

To avoid this situation, the "AB share" system was created.

The core of the so-called "AB shares" is very simple: different voting rights for the same shares.

The stock is divided into two tiers: A shares and B shares. A shares issued to external investors have only one vote, while B shares held by management have N votes per share.

Even if external investors control more than 51% of the A-shares, their actual voting rights are negligible and they cannot shake the management at all.

Of course, since external investors voluntarily relinquished their voting rights, this can be considered a bargaining chip to gain more benefits during the negotiation process.

"AB shares" is a sharp double-edged sword.

As long as the company makes the right decisions and develops well, everyone can live in peace.

However, if the founding team makes a wrong decision, it means that the other shareholders become "collateral damage" of the decision.

Li Ye's proposed "absolute decision-making power" is the ultimate evolution of the "AB share" system.

Regardless of how many shares Li Ye owns, no one else has the right to interfere with how the new bank project will develop in the future!

We can all make money together, and the distribution of profits can be renegotiated, but when it comes to the most crucial decision-making power, there is absolutely no room for negotiation.

The new bank project is not a patented project. Li Ye can start it, Li Yue Qi Xing can start it, and anyone can start it as long as they have the ability.

For Ningguang, the bank that Li Ye started was more like an experimental project.

If successful, the banks established by the Liyue Seven Stars will replicate this model and expand throughout the entire Teyvat continent.

Therefore, it doesn't really matter who ultimately has the decision-making power over this bank.

Ningguang still felt uneasy seeing "absolute decision-making power." Was it because of Li Ye's domineering nature?

Yes, it's assertive!

Ningguang could even guess that if she did not agree to the "absolute decision-making power" in the contract, Li Ye would get up and leave immediately, and would never compromise even if the new bank project was shelved.

Not only Ningguang, but Zhongli, who was standing next to her, also realized Li Ye's unyielding and assertive nature.

He thought to himself: "Two tigers cannot share one mountain, unless..."

Ningguang's reason ultimately prevailed over her emotions. Since it wasn't important, what was wrong with taking a step back?

"I have no objection to this contract."

With Zhongli as a witness, Ningguang took out a pen and signed her name on the contract—Jihengyi.

Although Ningguang did not sign her real name, this does not affect its validity.

As Ningguang signed the contract, Zhongli, who was standing next to her as a witness, also took the pen and signed his name on the contract, thus completing the last important step in the new bank project.

Li Ye was initially worried that he would have to go through rounds of heated debates, negotiating from night until dawn, but he didn't expect things to go so smoothly.

At this moment, the dishes that Master Yanxiao had carefully prepared were freshly served, one after another, delicious dishes, accompanied by freshly warmed wine.

Li Ye picked up the wine pot and filled the wine cups in front of the three people. Then he picked up the wine cup in front of him and said, "This cup celebrates the successful completion of our contract and the smooth landing of the new bank project. I also wish our business a prosperous future."

After saying that, Li Ye drank the wine in one gulp, and a rare expression of relief appeared on his face.

Although realizing my dream is still a long way off, at least I've taken the first step.

After finishing his first drink, Li Ye immediately spoke to Ning Guang, "Boss Ji, now that we have reached an agreement on our first collaboration, I would like to take this opportunity to discuss the next project we are preparing for."

Ningguang did not answer immediately; instead, she seemed somewhat uneasy, and even hinted at panic and worry.

Li Ye thought Ningguang was worried that it would be inconvenient to talk with Zhongli present, so he laughed and said, "You're being too polite. Mr. Zhongli is like family. Is there anything you can't say?"

"Our own brother?!" Xiao, hiding in the shadows, was taken aback once again!

What? This boy named Li Ye actually calls Lord Zhongli "our own brother"?

How can it be!

Zhong Li, who was standing next to him, also wanted to hear what Li Ye had to say. He picked up his chopsticks and said while eating, "Boss Ji, please rest assured, no matter what we talk about tonight, I will not reveal a single word to anyone."

Upon hearing Zhongli's reply, Xiao was once again extremely shocked.

Lord Zhongli didn't deny what the boy said?

Could it be that Lord Zhongli really acknowledges this young man as "one of his own"?

No, no, there must be some hidden story here!

Ningguang thought to herself, "I'm not afraid of being overheard by Mr. Zhongli. I'm afraid that after you, Li Ye, have a drink, you'll start talking nonsense again."

Unfortunately, Ningguang's good intentions were destined to be in vain. Li Ye could never have imagined that there was a Three-Eyed Immortal eavesdropping in the Wangshu Inn.

Li Ye snapped his fingers crisply and said, "Boss Ji's businesses are all over Liyue. I would like to ask Boss Ji to do me a favor and have the shop assistants pay more attention to any unusual information happening around them."