Supreme Heir Son-in-law

"Grandpa, you’ve said so much, but none of it addresses the main point. You still haven’t told me why you opened so many gas stations?"

Faced with his grandson’s inquiry, the elder Mr. Xu didn’t know how to respond for a moment.

He vaguely remembered that the initial plan was driven by the circumstances of that time.

Back then, the Xu Group was facing internal and external troubles, with several orders in hand being suppressed by rival companies, yet the elder Mr. Xu didn’t have enough funds.

If they couldn’t gather enough money in a short period, their company would suffer annual losses.

It was well known that the Xu Group was in a situation of both internal and external crisis at that time.

One problem was severe corruption within the company, causing a large portion of its funds to mysteriously disappear.

Meanwhile, their arch-enemy was suppressing them at every turn.

The elder Mr. Xu had heard somewhere that there was a significant profit in oil, so he used the company’s last assets to set up gas stations.

His intention was to alleviate the financial pressure on the Headquarters.

But unexpectedly, after two months, the gas stations showed minimal results, and the international oil prices suddenly plummeted, causing Mr. Xu to lose interest in the gas stations.

However, he didn’t forget about these gas stations and kept them as a fallback plan for the company.

Strangely enough, just when their company was at a dead end, their competitor inexplicably went bankrupt.

Through his inquiries, the elder Mr. Xu later found out that the competitor was involved in corruption and many shady dealings, resulting in their prompt closure by the state.

No wonder the competitor had developed so rapidly—they had engaged in so many illegal activities behind the scenes.

This unexpected bankruptcy revived the seemingly doomed company.

Previously, with no partners or funds on hand, the competitor’s collapse returned all those orders back to the Xu Group.

This back-and-forth situation made cooperating companies trust the Xu Group even more, and the prices soared to more than double.

It was through this business battle that the Xu Group managed to stand out from the capital city.

To this day, the elder Mr. Xu remembers those events vividly as it was a personal experience.

He kept those gas stations as a contingency because oil is indispensable in any era.

However, since then, the company has thrived, and the gas stations were gradually forgotten.

The elder Mr. Xu couldn’t recall the last time he worried about them; if Xu Ke hadn’t brought it up, he might have forgotten entirely.

But now, these gas stations no longer have much utility, and how to deal with them is up to Xu Ke.

"Xu Ke, those gas stations were originally for dealing with the company’s crisis. But once the crisis was resolved, their purpose ended. I’ve kept them as a fallback for the company, but it’s no longer necessary. How to handle them is your decision."

After the elder Mr. Xu finished speaking, Xu Ke finally understood.

No wonder Zhang Fei had such remarks back then; indeed, the company faced great danger.

However, with the danger resolved, the gas stations ceased to be necessary.

But Xu Ke doesn’t see them as useless; in his hands, they could be a significant strategic resource.

He understands that oil is always highly sought after.

And over time, demand for oil is only increasing, making it more valuable.

Xu Ke has made a point of researching the international oil situation; most of it is controlled by crucial countries.

To engage in oil business, one must maintain good relations with these parties.

Xu Ke has mentally drafted a grand strategy, aiming to lead the Xu Group to new heights.

He understands the principle of "prosperity always precedes decline" and seeks new strategies to prevent this.

Since the elder Mr. Xu said the gas stations were no longer of use, he would start there.

"Grandpa, even if the stations are useless now, you might still have old connections? I want to venture into the oil business; can you help me establish some contacts?"

Xu Ke’s ambition startled the elder Mr. Xu; he didn’t expect his grandson to aim for the substantial oil sector.

"You rascal, not to discourage you, but the international oil situation is evident; entering it could cause many to dislike you. Without complete preparation, I advise against jumping into this mess. While I do have some connections, don’t gamble away our company."

Although the elder Mr. Xu had handed over the company to Xu Ke, he would rather it not collapse under his grandson’s watch.

If Xu Ke couldn’t lead the Xu Group to new heights, the elder Mr. Xu would prefer to maintain the status quo.

However, Xu Ke’s boldness indicated he was prepared.

Xu Ke never fights a battle unprepared, and he had no intention to rush in.

"Grandpa, you can trust me. I have this idea but won’t act on it immediately; only when I’m fully prepared will I proceed."

Seeing Xu Ke’s confidence, the elder Mr. Xu decided to let him go forward.

Ultimately, the future lies in the hands of the younger generation, and his own concerns were no longer paramount.

"Very well, since you have such a notion, I’ll give you the contact information. But remember your words: do not dive into this mess without complete preparation." Saying this, the elder Mr. Xu handed Xu Ke a business card.

Xu Ke didn’t look at it; instead, he slipped it into his pocket.

After sorting everything out, Xu Ke returned to rest. The next morning, he went to the company for overtime, just like usual.