163: Chapter 163 The Mother-in-Law's Invitation

Lin Xuecen's tone turned cold. "No rush. Come back to me once you've thought it through."

Ten days later, Wan Chuanzhi finally couldn't hold out any longer.

The collection notices on his desk were each a reminder that Wantong Logistics was already on the edge of a precipice.

And the villa his precious son had bought still hadn't been sold.

Wan Chuanzhi picked up the phone, hesitated for a long time, and finally dialed a number.

"President Lin, this is Wan Chuanzhi."

Lin Xuecen's unhurried voice came from the other end of the line:

"Mr. Wan, what is it?"

Wan Chuanzhi took a deep breath. "What you mentioned last time... I want to talk about it again."

"What was that?" Lin Xuecen's tone was indifferent, as if she had completely forgotten.

Wan Chuanzhi gritted his teeth. "The acquisition."

"Oh, that," Lin Xuecen smiled. "How do you want to talk, Mr. Wan?"

"The terms remain the same, but I'll hold fifty-one percent of the shares, and you'll hold forty-nine percent."

Wan Chuanzhi spoke very quickly, as if afraid he would regret it.

There was silence on the other end.

Wan Chuanzhi gripped the receiver, his palms slick with sweat.

A few seconds later, Lin Xuecen's voice came through like a bucket of ice water being poured over him:

"Mr. Wan, I'm taking on all the debt and injecting three million in working capital, and in the end, my word doesn't even count? Do you take me for a fool?"

Wan Chuanzhi's face flushed crimson.

"I didn't mean it like that..."

Lin Xuecen interrupted him with an air of unquestionable authority:

"Mr. Wan, I've made the terms very clear. If you feel it's a loss, then forget it."

"President Lin..."

"If you accept, bring the contract to the headquarters of Cenjiang Industrial." After Lin Xuecen finished speaking, she hung up.

Wan Chuanzhi listened to the dial tone; he felt as if all his strength had been drained, collapsing into his chair.

Two hours later, in the meeting room of Cenjiang Industrial Group.

Under the dazzling camera flashes, Lin Xuecen and Wan Chuanzhi shook hands.

Wantong Logistics Co., Ltd. was renamed to Cenjiang Industrial Group Wantong Logistics Co., Ltd.

Externally, it was still called Wantong Logistics, but Wan Chuanzhi had gone from Chairman to General Manager.

Returning home in the evening, Zhao Yang and Jiang Nan were cooking in the kitchen, while Jiang Yunheng sat on the sofa watching TV.

Lin Xuecen pushed the door open and entered, an unmistakable smile on her face.

She walked quickly to the sofa and pulled Jiang Yunheng up:

"Old Jiang, don't let the kids work so hard; let's go out for a big meal tonight!"

Zhao Yang poked his head out. "Mom, what's the good news that has you so happy?"

"Yangyang, Wantong Logistics has been secured, with a fifty-one percent stake!" Lin Xuecen was beaming.

Zhao Yang's eyes lit up. "It's done?"

"It's done!" Lin Xuecen was full of smiles.

Jiang Nan poked her head out holding a spatula. "Mom, I went to all this trouble to cook..."

Jiang Yunheng laughed from the side. "The kids have already finished, let's just eat at home."

Lin Xuecen glanced at the dishes on the table and sat down.

"Then we'll eat at home. But I'll open the wine."

Zhao Yang took a sip from his wine glass. "Mom, how much did this acquisition cost?"

"Injecting 3 million in working capital," Lin Xuecen smiled proudly. "The debt can be paid back slowly; there's no need to pay it off all at once. Wantong's foundation is still there; as long as the capital chain is reconnected, it can be revitalized quickly."

Zhao Yang nodded.

He knew this acquisition was a great deal; the warehousing network and transport routes were still there, so it could start operating as soon as it was taken over.

"What's the plan next?" Jiang Yunheng asked.

"Stabilize first," Lin Xuecen said. "Clear up the accounts at Wantong; once people's hearts are steady, the business can start growing."

Zhao Yang nodded. "Mom is right. Also, regarding my brother and mother's side, I want to bring them over in the next couple of days."

"Have you looked at houses yet?" Lin Xuecen asked.

"I have," Zhao Yang said. "There's a fully furnished four-bedroom, two-living room apartment over at Guanlan International, move-in ready. I'll go with Nannan tomorrow to handle the paperwork."

Lin Xuecen looked at Zhao Yang and nodded. "I'll make arrangements first. Once you guys go, give me a call."

Zhao Yang said, "Mom, I'll buy this house myself."

Lin Xuecen was a bit surprised. "Yangyang, that little bit of yours..."

She knew Zhao Yang's salary wasn't high, but saying it directly would hurt his self-esteem, so she quickly changed her words halfway.

"I know what you're thinking, but there's no need for family to be so formal. This house, just consider it a gift from me to a company employee."

Zhao Yang smiled. "Mom, I have the financial capability. My brother has sacrificed a lot for me, and I want to show a bit of my appreciation."

Jiang Yunheng and Jiang Nan looked at Zhao Yang at the same time, their eyes filled with admiration.

This guy was quite responsible.

Jiang Yunheng laughed. "Since Zhao Yang said so, let's leave it to him."

The next day, Zhao Yang sold thirty thousand shares of ST Amoi, earning over ninety thousand, which, plus his principal, came to nearly four hundred thousand.

When Saturday came, Zhao Yang and Jiang Nan went downstairs together to the community's sales office.

Two saleswomen at the front desk were looking down, organizing documents. A round-faced girl came forward:

"Hello, Sir and Madam, welcome!"

Zhao Yang handed over his bank card. "The unit I looked at last time, I'll pay in full."

"Certainly, Sir!" The round-faced girl's gaze fell on Jiang Nan's face, and her words suddenly caught in her throat.

This face was too beautiful.

It looked exactly like the photo of President Lin's daughter's wedding in the internal magazine.

Her hand shook, and the brochure almost fell to the floor.

"Miss... Miss Jiang? Please wait a moment, I'll call the manager right away!"

She turned and ran, her high heels making a loud clicking sound.

The sales manager rushed out of the office, reaching them in a few quick steps.

"Miss Jiang, Mr. Zhao, President Lin has already made arrangements to give you a twenty percent discount."

Twenty percent wasn't a small amount; after rounding off, it was exactly three hundred thousand.

Jiang Nan smiled beside Zhao Yang. "Secretary Zhao, you're probably about to go bankrupt, aren't you?"

Zhao Yang raised his chin. "The money on the card is still enough to buy furniture and appliances!"

The process was very fast: twenty percent discount, swiping the card, signing the contract, and getting the keys—all done in one go.

Walking out of the sales office, Jiang Nan held Zhao Yang's arm, looking up at him with bright eyes:

"The way you looked just now was quite handsome."

Zhao Yang looked down at her. "When am I not handsome?"

"Vain." Jiang Nan laughed and gave him a playful punch.

A week later, Zhao Yang brought his mother, brother, and sister-in-law's family over.

Lin Xuecen decided that in half a month, Cenjiang Industrial Group Wantong Logistics Co., Ltd. would officially be inaugurated.

She made a big deal of it, booking a banquet hall in Jiangzhou's most luxurious hotel and inviting leaders from both provincial and municipal departments as well as over a dozen media outlets.

Provincial Party Secretary Tao Zhimian was now keeping a low profile, so she wanted to invite Governor Sun Zhendong to attend.

Sun Zhendong had been in Jianghan for a short time, and she had little contact with him, so she was unsure.

She thought about it over and over and could only ask Zhao Yang for help.

Returning home in the evening, she called Zhao Yang over.

"Yangyang," Lin Xuecen personally poured him a cup of tea and pushed the invitation in front of Zhao Yang with a smile.

"Whether the Governor can come this time depends on you."

Zhao Yang's hand holding the teacup paused slightly, and he immediately felt a massive headache.

Sun Zhendong never attended corporate opening ceremonies; this was something everyone in the Provincial Government knew.

Last time during the Jianghan Iron and Steel Group's fiftieth-anniversary celebration, Chairman Zhou personally went to deliver the invitation, and Sun Zhendong still didn't budge.

Now he was being asked to speak up? How could he?

Should he say, "Governor, the boss of this company is my mother-in-law, please do me a favor"?

Seeing his troubled expression, Lin Xuecen lowered her voice:

"Yangyang, Mom knows this is a bit difficult for you. But if the Governor can come, it's an endorsement for us, and work will go much more smoothly in the future."

Zhao Yang gave a bitter smile. "Mom, it's not that I'm unwilling, but the Governor's temper..."

"That's why I'm asking you," Lin Xuecen patted the back of his hand. "You're someone close to him; it's convenient for you to speak."

This was completely blocking any way out.

Zhao Yang opened his mouth, picked up the teacup, and took a sip, baring his teeth from the heat.