97: Chapter 97 Zhao Liguo, Hu Qian, Zhao Tai

"Keeping a gambler like that on the board will drag Renhetang to its death sooner or later.

President Qin Xia can stay; she's a founder and understands operations. Keeping her will stabilize the storefronts below."

"Then our goal is clear: kick out Chairman Li Jie, win over President Qin Xia, and acquire a 51% controlling stake," Vice President Liu Qingyan said softly.

She pushed up her black-rimmed glasses, looking like a harmless librarian, but in reality, she was Junlin Capital's most ruthless negotiation expert.

"However, Chairman Li Jie holds 35.17% of the shares, and with President Qin Xia's 15.14%, they collectively hold over 50%.

If Chairman Li Jie refuses to sell, a forced acquisition on the secondary market would be too costly and would alert regulators."

"No need for a forced acquisition," President Wang Ya said with a cold smirk.

"Financial Director Xia Wanxing, run the numbers for Chairman Li Jie."

Financial Director Xia Wanxing understood immediately and pulled up a PPT slide.

"Although Chairman Li Jie holds 35.17% of the shares, he has pledged 90% of his equity.

With Renhetang's stock price continuing to fall, he is on the verge of liquidation.

If we don't step in, the bank will freeze his shares tomorrow. By then, not only will he not get a single cent, but he'll also be saddled with debt."

"Very well." President Wang Ya stood up, walked to the whiteboard, and wrote down three steps:

1. Luring the prey: Under the guise of "strategic investment," invite the senior management of Renhetang to the Junlin Capital headquarters in Ze City for negotiations.

2. Divide and conquer: At the negotiation table, lay our cards on the table.

Tell Chairman Li Jie that Junlin Capital can help him pay off his debts, but he must liquidate his position and leave; tell President Qin Xia that Junlin Capital will inject 2 billion to resolve the company's debts, but she must sign an acting-in-concert agreement and hand over her voting rights.

3. Package acquisition: Junlin Capital will invest 1.5 billion to acquire 25% of the shares from Chairman Li Jie (leaving 10% for him to sell slowly, or forcing him to sell at a low price later) and acquire 10% of the shares from President Qin Xia.

At the same time, Renhetang will issue new shares to Junlin Capital to ensure that our final shareholding ratio reaches 51%.

"What's the total budget?" President Wang Ya asked.

"3 billion," Financial Director Xia Wanxing calculated quickly.

"1.5 billion to buy existing shares, 1.5 billion to participate in the private placement—the company's books can handle it perfectly."

"Director Chu Yao," President Wang Ya said, looking at the Director of Charity.

"Pick a few representative storefronts from Renhetang's struggling locations and donate a batch of medical equipment in the name of Junlin Charity.

We want the outside world to think that we are here to 'save the market,' not to 'suck it dry.'"

"Understood!" Director Chu Yao blinked her large eyes, looking innocent.

"I'll have the media portray the boss as a 'national entrepreneur.'"

"Vice President Liu Qingyan, Director Chu Yao, you two come with me to negotiate."

President Wang Ya closed her folder and looked at Administrative Director Tang Xingmian.

"Administrative Director Tang Xingmian, no need to book flight tickets. It's only a two-hour drive from Quan City to Ze City.

Arrange two company cars to go to Quan City and 'pick up' Chairman Li Jie and President Qin Xia.

Remember, be polite, but once the car doors close, make them feel the pressure."

"Understood, President Wang Ya." Administrative Director Tang Xingmian took out her phone and started arranging the motorcade.

"I'll have the drivers take the expressway and keep everything sealed off, so they won't have any chance to collude in private."

...

In Quan City, at the Renhetang headquarters.

In the Chairman's office, Chairman Li Jie was frantically answering a debt collection call from a loan shark: "Chairman Li, if you don't pay this money back, we're going to 'visit' your home!"

"Give me two more days! I'm negotiating financing!" Chairman Li Jie hung up the phone, covered in cold sweat.

At that moment, his secretary knocked and entered: "Chairman Li, President Wang Ya from Junlin Capital in Ze City has sent an invitation, inviting you and President Qin Xia to the Ze City headquarters tomorrow morning to discuss 'strategic cooperation.'

Their cars will depart tomorrow morning and will be here in a little over two hours. We need to provide feedback."

Chairman Li Jie's eyes lit up, as if he had grabbed a lifeline: "Pick us up? Personally coming to pick us up? It seems Junlin Capital is very sincere!

Notify President Qin Xia immediately, tell her to prepare the documents, and we'll go to Ze City to meet these VIPs together! Reply to Junlin Capital that we will arrive on time, and remember to be polite!"

...

Night fell at the Zhao family villa.

The butler notified Zhao Tai that his grandfather had returned.

As soon as he walked into the living room, he heard a sharp "crack" from the study, followed by the sound of porcelain shattering.

He shivered all over; there was no way to hide, so he had to bite the bullet and walk into the study.

He saw his grandfather, Governor Zhao Liguo, who was usually dignified and deep, angrily smashing a Ming dynasty teacup onto the floor, his chest heaving violently.

His mother, Hu Qian, sat on the sofa nearby, her face ashen, with a thin cigarette in her hand emitting wisps of smoke.

"Grandfather... Mom..." Zhao Tai called out tremblingly.

"Kneel!" Governor Zhao Liguo roared, his voice like a thunderclap.

Zhao Tai dropped to his knees with a thud, his knees hitting the floor with a dull sound.

"Trash! Useless thing!" Governor Zhao Liguo pointed at Zhao Tai's nose, his fingers trembling.

"I told you to manage the company well, and look at you—you cooked the books so badly that even a primary school student could see through it!

And what's this about 'unspoken rules'? Are you trying to hurry my death?"

"Grandfather, I was wrong... I was set up by that bastard Vice President Wu Liang! He said it was a quick way to make money..." Zhao Tai defended himself with a mournful face.

"Shut up! Still trying to shift the blame!" Hu Qian stood up abruptly and slapped Zhao Tai across the face.

"Vice President Wu Liang was someone you promoted, and you were the one who spent the money!

Now you want him to go in and take the fall so you can come out clean? You've disgraced the Zhao family!"

Zhao Tai covered his face, not daring to speak, and could only sob quietly.

Governor Zhao Liguo took a deep breath, forcing himself to calm down.

He walked to the window, turned his back to Zhao Tai, and said in a low, cold voice:

"Although this matter has been temporarily suppressed, the Zhao family's reputation has been ruined by you.

The Tax Bureau may believe for now that Vice President Wu Liang is the mastermind, but the accounts at Yayun Culture still have issues.

We need a large amount of cash to balance the books and to grease the wheels in the capital."

He turned around, his gaze like a knife fixed on Hu Qian: "Hu Qian, deal with Xingyao Media immediately.

No matter the price, as long as it can be converted into cash, sell it immediately!"

Hu Qian stubbed out her cigarette, a flash of ruthlessness in her eyes: "Dad, don't worry.

I've already put the word out. As long as someone is willing to take over, even if it means tearing Xingyao Media apart and selling it for scrap, I'll accept it.

As for Zhao Tai..." She looked at her son kneeling on the floor, her eyes full of disappointment and disgust:

"From today on, you get back to the company and start from the bottom.

If I find out you're messing around with those messy women again, I'll send you abroad, and you're never coming back!"

Zhao Tai shrank his neck and nodded hurriedly: "Yes, Mom, I will change, I will definitely change..."

But in his lowered eyes, a trace of imperceptible resentment flashed.

"Jiang Shuying, you bitch, and Lin Yu, I will settle this score with you sooner or later!"

...

In Quan City, at Yunxi Mansion.

Lin Yu sat on the spacious living room sofa, holding a cup of freshly brewed Dahongpao tea.

Outside the window, the night had swallowed the city's silhouette.

Lin Yu took a sip of tea, his expression calm.

"The Zhao family camel, although not dead yet, has broken a leg.

The shell of Xingyao Media, though a bit dirty, has valuable licenses and internet celebrity resources.

Buying it for 30 million and changing the shell is enough."

"Boss, about Zhao Tai..." Leng Yue paused.

"Although he was released, Governor Zhao Liguo scolded him severely and made him go back to the company to start from the bottom."

"Start from the bottom?" Lin Yu sneered.

"That's just the Zhao family putting on a show for the outside world.

However, a person like Zhao Tai, without the protection of power, is just a stray dog.

Let him jump around for two days. Once Xingyao Media is transferred and the 'public opinion bomb' from Lina's side is detonated, let's see how the Zhao family protects him then."

"Understood."

"Alright, you may leave." Lin Yu waved his hand.

"Leave the rest to President Wang Ya and the others. I don't want these trivial matters to disturb my rest tonight."

"Yes." Leng Yue turned and left, her figure disappearing at the entrance.

Lin Yu put down the teacup, sent the news to President Wang Ya, and transferred 10 million to her with the note: "Treat yourself better."

She didn't reply immediately; she must be busy. Thinking about his women, they were all quite busy, which was good.

He just needed to think of some activity to let them relax.

Lin Yu rested his chin in his hand, his gaze fixed on the thousands of lights shining outside the window.

At night, Yunxi Mansion shed the hustle and bustle of the day, leaving only the faint hum of the elevator and the distant, indistinct roar of the city.

Jiang Shuying pushed open the door, and the familiar air with a faint woody scent rushed to meet her.

She hadn't worked overtime; the rare early return allowed her tense nerves to relax a little.

She bent down to change her shoes.

Her gaze inadvertently swept past the entrance cabinet, where a pair of men's casual shoes were neatly placed, their surface spotless.

He was home.

Her heart skipped a beat for no reason, then immediately returned to its usual calm.

She carried her bag and walked toward the living room.

The huge floor-to-ceiling windows framed the city's twilight scene like a moving painting.

Lin Yu stood with his back to her, facing the window. Seeming to hear her footsteps, he turned around.

He was wearing a simple white T-shirt. Seeing Jiang Shuying, a gentle smile appeared on his face: "You're back? Freshen up, shall we go out to eat something?"

Jiang Shuying nodded, her voice cool and soft: "Okay."

She paused and added, "However, you've treated me before, so this meal must be on me."

Lin Yu raised an eyebrow, a flicker of mischief in his eyes: "Alright, it's an honor to be treated by Miss Jiang."

"Then wait a moment, I'll change my clothes." After saying this, Jiang Shuying turned and walked toward her room.

A few minutes later, she came out in a light gray knitted dress, her long hair simply tied back, revealing her smooth forehead and delicate features.

She was born with the look of a classical beauty, with picturesque eyebrows and eyes and a calm temperament, and now she added a touch of gentleness.

The two went downstairs together and sat in Lin Yu's black rolls-royce phantom.

The cabin was silent, with only the low rumble of the engine starting.

"What are we going to eat?" Jiang Shuying asked, turning her head, her gaze falling on the street scene flying past the window.

"Huimin Street barbecue," Lin Yu said, turning the steering wheel and skillfully driving out of the underground garage.

"Fatty ordered takeout before, and the taste was good. Eating it fresh off the grill should be even better."

Upon hearing this, Jiang Shuying's brows furrowed imperceptibly.

Huimin Street... that kind of place was crowded, noisy, and heavy with cooking fumes, which was completely incompatible with the places she usually frequented.

This was fine, though; she had often gone to street stalls during college gatherings, but she was just trying to maintain her figure.

Lin Yu glanced at her from the corner of his eye, seemingly seeing through her thoughts, and smiled: "I know you're watching your figure, but once in a while doesn't matter.

Otherwise, if you can't eat this or that, what's the point of life?"

His tone was relaxed. Jiang Shuying was silent for a moment, and finally, she gave a soft "Hmm": "Alright."

The car headed west, passing through the bustling business district and into the old city full of local atmosphere.

When the expensive top-of-the-line rolls-royce phantom slowly stopped in front of a barbecue stall on Huimin Street, it instantly attracted all the surrounding attention.

Some people took out their phones to take pictures, while others pointed and whispered.

Driving a Phantom to eat at a street stall? The contrast was just too great.

Lin Yu was completely unaware, or rather, didn't care at all.

He parked the car and gentlemanly opened the door for Jiang Shuying.

Jiang Shuying kept her head slightly lowered, following him to the outdoor stall and sitting down in a relatively quiet spot.

The owner greeted them enthusiastically: "Handsome man and beautiful lady, welcome, welcome!"

"Hmm," Lin Yu nodded and turned to look at Jiang Shuying. "See if you want to eat anything else?"

Jiang Shuying looked at the greasy menu, a bit at a loss.

Lin Yu took the menu directly and ordered familiarly: "Fatty and lean beef and lamb skewers, the lean ones are suitable for you.

Also, some horse-faced fish, grilled enoki mushrooms, grilled eggplant, grilled green peppers, grilled shrimp, grilled scallops, oysters, grilled steamed buns..."

He ordered a huge pile like he was reciting a menu. Jiang Shuying waved her hand quickly: "Enough, enough, that's too much."

Lin Yu looked at her with a smile: "What, afraid I'll eat you into poverty? What do you want to drink? Juice or beer?"

"Plain boiled water is fine," Jiang Shuying insisted.

The waiter quickly brought two cold dishes, smashed cucumber and cold tossed wood ear mushrooms, refreshing and appetizing.

Immediately after, the aroma of the skewers filled the air.

The charcoal fire was blazing, the meat skewers sizzled on the iron rack, and the fat dripped down, stirring up clouds of white smoke.

Lin Yu picked up a skewer of lamb with fat and lean meat, skillfully wiped the tip of the skewer with a napkin, and handed it to Jiang Shuying: "Try it, it's fresh off the grill, eat it while it's hot."

Jiang Shuying took it and carefully took a small bite.

It was crispy on the outside and tender on the inside, full of meat juices, and the unique spice flavor exploded on her tongue.

It was indeed much better than takeout. She couldn't help but take another bite.

Lin Yu watched her look of satisfaction, his lips curling up unconsciously.

He also picked up a skewer and began to eat heartily, appearing exceptionally real and down-to-earth.

Jiang Shuying looked at him, and a strange feeling surged in her heart.

This man could handle multi-million level businesses and could also sit calmly at a roadside stall, eating skewers just like an ordinary person.

This contrast made her feel both strange and... somewhat charming.

The two talked while eating, with topics ranging from work to life, and then to their favorite movies and books.

Unknowingly, an hour passed, and the skewers on the table were almost gone.

For the first time, Jiang Shuying had eaten quite a bit, and even felt a little full.