79: Chapter 79 Security Team

"President Hao, your price puts me in a difficult position. I don't even need to look at the asset list; the market value of the Daqiang Steel Plant is definitely more than five hundred million. How about this? On top of that one hundred and sixty million, I'll pay you another five hundred million. The Daqiang Steel Plant will be sold to me for six hundred and sixty million. It's an auspicious number, and I'm already getting a bargain. Don't say another word, or I'll just turn around and leave. What do you say?" Cao Xiao said after a moment of hesitation.

"Sigh! Since you put it that way, I won't insist. I really didn't expect you to refuse me like this. If you're short on funds, you can pay whenever you like; the steel plant will be transferred to your name as soon as possible," Hao Daqiang said with a bitter smile. The reason he offered such a low price was partly to repay a debt of gratitude and partly because he had already decided to retire. His children had their own careers, and having enough money for his retirement was sufficient; anything more was meaningless.

"I'm not short on funds. I can transfer it to your account right now. Let's transfer the steel plant to the name of Dizang Company. I'll have Linger handle the handover. However, I'll have to trouble you to help Linger out when you're free. She's still young and lacks experience. Or, how about this? I'll hire you as a management consultant for Dizang Company. You won't need to clock in; just drop by the company when you have time and offer some guidance?" Cao Xiao felt relieved once Hao Daqiang agreed.

"You don't even have to ask. Linger is my precious niece; how could I not help her? A management consultant? I wouldn't be used to suddenly having nothing to do, so it'll be nice to have a place to contribute my remaining energy. I'll take the job, but don't go complaining about me meddling when the time comes." Hao Daqiang was very happy that Cao Xiao invited him to be a company consultant.

"In that case, you can just communicate and handle the details with Linger. The steel plant can continue production as usual for now. I have to go abroad soon, and we'll discuss the development plan when I return. Sorry, let me take this call first." As Cao Xiao was speaking, his phone rang. He picked it up and saw it was Cheng Huaiyu. "Big Brother, is something up?"

"The people your third brother scouted for you have arrived in the city. I'll give you the team leader's number; arrange things yourself. I'm busy." On the other end of the line, Chen Huaiyu spoke hurriedly and hung up.

Cao Xiao didn't mind. Within a minute, he received a text from Chen Huaiyu containing a name and a phone number.

"Hello! Is this Wu Feng? Yes, I'm Cao Xiao. Okay, I'll give you a specific address. Go there first. I can make it back in about four hours. Please wait for me there," Cao Xiao said after dialing the number.

"President Hao, I'm sorry, but I have to rush back to Huanghe City. I'll leave things here to you and Hao Linger," Cao Xiao said apologetically to Hao Daqiang.

"Just call me Uncle Hao from now on. I'm not a general manager anymore. I'll help Linger arrange everything here. If you have business, go ahead and attend to it," Hao Daqiang said.

"Then thank you, Uncle Hao. I'll be going now. See you later."

After bidding farewell to Hao Daqiang, there was no time to visit his aunt's house. He rushed back without stopping. On the way, he told Hao Linger about the steel plant, requesting that its name be changed to Dizang Metal Smelting Company, under the management of Dizang Technology Company.

Cao Xiao had been looking forward to this group of people his third brother introduced for a long time. There were nineteen of them in total, all former subordinates of his third brother. Moreover, they weren't ordinary soldiers; they were all retired from special forces. Those valued by his third brother were the elite of the elite. They had retired either because they reached the age limit or due to physical injuries. Perhaps they could no longer go to the battlefield, but their skills were still there, and they were more than capable of being bodyguards. Some had been retired for several years, but their lives and jobs were unsatisfactory, especially since several were considered disabled with issues in their limbs, making it difficult to find work. Even so, they were unwilling to be bodyguards for others, and most of them were already married with children. This time, his third brother had gone to great lengths to invite them from all over the country.

Returning to the Tianxing Garden villa, as soon as he entered the living room, he saw a group of people in camouflage uniforms standing there in a straight and orderly fashion. Cao Xiao was also exceptionally shaken. It took him over three hours to drive back from Jinghu City. These people must have arrived here right after receiving his call and had been standing like this for hours. It was only then that he understood what it meant to have unyielding character; even though they were no longer in the barracks, their military bearing had not diminished.

Walking in front of them, he couldn't help but stand at attention and give them a non-standard military salute. He then saw the nineteen people before him, including the few with mobility issues, snap to attention and return the salute in perfect unison while looking directly at him. For a moment, Cao Xiao's heart surged with emotion, and he remained silent for a long time.

Cao Xiao lowered his right hand and said loudly, "Hello everyone. I am not a soldier, just an ordinary small businessman, but that doesn't hinder my admiration for true, hot-blooded soldiers. Thank you all for coming here. Perhaps you aren't very willing to be a bodyguard for a young man like me, but since you are standing here today, I will take responsibility for your future. I also hope you will do your best for the security of myself and my family. This must be Major Wu Feng, right?"

A limping soldier around thirty years old standing at the front of the line stepped forward and said, "Hello, Mr. Cao. I am Wu Feng, but I'm no longer a major. Mr. Cao can just call me by my name. I hope Mr. Cao doesn't look down on us old, weak, and disabled men."

Cao Xiao said to Wu Feng, "Then I'll call you Brother Wu. You are all true elites; otherwise, I wouldn't have asked my third brother to invite you from thousands of miles away. Today is a bit rushed, and I haven't had time to prepare a place for you, so please bear with staying here for a day. Everyone, there's no need to be so serious. This isn't a military camp, and my home doesn't have any messy rules. Please feel free to be more casual from now on."

Wu Feng declined, "There's no need to trouble yourself, Mr. Cao. We can rest anywhere. When we were in the army, we spent more time in the field than in the barracks."

"Brother Wu, please don't refuse. The safety of me and my family depends on your protection, so don't worry about these things in the future," Cao Xiao insisted on his opinion.

Cao Xiao's point was reasonable; if they weren't even willing to accept a small favor, how could he trust them with his safety? Thus, Wu Feng no longer refused. Once he understood, he turned to the people still standing straight behind him and said, "Everyone, dismissed. Find a place to sit down."

He had Sister Li bring some tea and fruit to quench everyone's thirst. After sitting down, he said to Wu Feng, "Brother Wu, this is my plan. I intend to establish a dedicated security company. You will all be employees of this security company. I want you to be the manager. Initially, you'll be responsible for the security of me and my family. After the company is formed, we'll first need to recruit some retired soldiers to handle the security of my properties. You will only be responsible for training and management. What do you think?"

"Managing a security company is no problem. I want to ask, Mr. Cao, how do you plan to arrange for us?" Wu Feng thought for a moment, nodded in agreement, and asked.

Cao Xiao was truly not good at these things and said with a headache, "I'll be going out often, so just arrange for two people to follow me. As for my home, I don't understand security and protection, so Brother Wu, you arrange it as you see fit. I just acquired a steel plant in Jinghu City; that place is very important to me and needs very tight security because what I do in the future might attract the attention of foreign powers. Also, my two companies and their senior executives need to be well-protected. We don't have enough manpower right now. Once the company is established, we need to train qualified security personnel as soon as possible. You'll have to worry about all of this. I'll also find a way to equip you with weapons and armor. Please purchase the security facilities and transportation yourselves. I'll give you fifty million in funds; just spend it boldly and try to do your best. I will face many enemies in the future, and there can be no mistakes when it comes to safety. I've set your base salary at thirty thousand, with position allowances based on your roles. You can discuss the specifics yourselves after the company is formed. As for housing, I'll go buy some properties in the neighborhood where my home is tomorrow. You can bring your families over to live so you won't be separated. I'll also try my best to arrange jobs for them. I can't think of anything else for now. Anyway, if you need anything, just tell me, and I'll give you my full support."

Wu Feng also saw that Cao Xiao really didn't understand, so he said, "In that case, we will formulate a specific plan based on your situation. If you think it's appropriate, we will execute according to the plan."